Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 8 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 61-62W, on Afghanistan peacekeeping operations, how many contacts were recorded between British forces and insurgents in Southern Afghanistan in each month since February 2008.

Des Browne: The number of direct engagements (regardless of the instigator) between ISAF forces and insurgents in Helmand Province per month between 1 February and 13 May 2008, the most recent date for which corroborated information is available, are as follows:
	
		
			  2008  Number of contacts 
			 February 102 
			 March 127 
			 April 90 
			 1-13 May 47 
		
	
	It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, separately to identify attacks exclusively involving British forces given the multinational nature of forces operating in Helmand Province.
	This data is based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: A new food supply contract was let in October 2006. This contract provides for the supply of food to UK armed forces personnel for Hin barracks" feeding in UK and Germany (for personnel not fed under the Pay As You Dine programme) and to UK armed forces personnel serving on operations and some overseas exercises. Through this contract, approximately 65 per cent. of food has been sourced from British suppliers. The remaining 35 per cent. of food is sourced from a number of worldwide countries although these vary through the year due to seasonality, availability or market forces.
	Further detailed information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Shipping: Sales

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which  (a) Royal Navy and  (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have been sold to other countries in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships sold on a government-to-government basis since 1997 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Date of the contract of sale  Name of ship  Sold to 
			 FY 1997-98 HMS Plover Philippines 
			  HMS Peacock Philippines 
			  HMS Starling Philippines 
			
			 FY 1998-99 HMS Unseen Canada 
			
			 FY 2000-01 HMS Bicester Greece 
			  HMS Orkney Trinidad and Tobago 
			
			 FY 2001-02 HMS Berkeley Greece 
			  HMS Orwell Guyana 
			
			 FY 2002-03 HMS London Romania 
			  HMS Coventry Romania 
			  HMS Shetland Bangladesh 
			  HMS Alderney Bangladesh 
			  HMS Anglesey Bangladesh 
			  HMS Lindisfarne Bangladesh 
			  HMS Guernsey Bangladesh 
			  HMS Sheffield Chile 
			
			 FY 2005-06 HMS Marlborough Chile 
			  HMS Norfolk Chile 
			  HMS Grafton Chile 
			
			 FY 2006-07 HMS Sandown Estonia 
			  HMS Bridport Estonia 
			  HMS Inverness Estonia 
			
			 FY 2007-08 RFA Sir Galahad Brazil

Type 45 Destroyers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the average annual maintenance cost of one Type-45 Destroyer.

Bob Ainsworth: We have not yet reached the main decision point for the contract to provide in-service support for the Type 45 Destroyers and the associated costs have yet to be fully determined.

World War Two: Medals

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) veteran badges and  (b) Bevin Boy badges have been issued to people in the North East.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format that identifies how many HM Armed Forces Veterans badges and Bevin Boys Veterans badges have been issued in the North East region and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	Between May 2004 and 2 June 2008, over 594,000 HM Armed Forces Veterans badges have been issued.
	Between March 2008 and 2 June 2008, over 4,000 Bevin Boys Veterans badges have been issued.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of newly deployed troops to Afghanistan have been deployed  (a) to help build up infrastructure and  (b) to train and support Afghan security forces; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Of the 630 new posts announced by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne) on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 677, some 75 will be engaged in helping to rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure. Around a further 155 will deploy to assist in the training and support of the Afghan National Security Forces.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of single living accommodation units  (a) in the UK and  (b) overseas are in each standard for condition grade.

Derek Twigg: All Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is assessed by Grade for Charge (GfC) rather than Standard for Condition. GfC is an assessment of the chargeable condition of the accommodation, along with other factors such as the size, location and closeness to amenities. As at March 2008, SLA is at thefollowing grade:
	
		
			   UK SLA bed-spaces  Percentage  Overseas SLA bed-spaces  Percentage 
			 Grade 1 34,320 25 2,650 12 
			 Grade 2 19,180 14 1,800 8 
			 Grade 3 21,460 16 4,890 23 
			 Grade 4 62,460 45 11,980 56 
		
	
	This Department accepts that not all SLA is of a standard that our Service personnel deserve and we are addressing this. Since 2003, some 26,000 new or improved bed-spaces have been delivered with a further 30,000 planned by 2013.
	accommodation.
	More generally, over the next decade £8.4 billion will be spent on accommodation.

Central African Republic: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Russian  (a) military helicopters and  (b) civilian contracted helicopters are in use by EUFOR Tchad/CAR; and on how many occasions British forces have flown in each.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no Russian military or civilian contracted helicopters currently in use by the EU's military mission to Chad/Central African Republic. Russia has offered tactical transport helicopters to the mission and discussions regarding this offer continue.

Central African Republic: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK's share of the approved budget for EUFOR Tchad/CAR is; and how much has been paid as of 30th June 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1489W, to the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane).
	The UK has paid £13.9 million as of 30 June 2008.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department last updated its Euro Changeover Plan (now known as the Euro Implementation Strategy) on 24 October 2005. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

Gazelle Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the future of 7 Regiment Army Air Corps;
	(2)  what the out of service date for the Army Air Corps Gazelle is; and what its replacement is to be.

Bob Ainsworth: Future Gazelle flying activity has been reviewed in successive departmental planning rounds. Under current planning assumptions the out of service date for the Gazelle is 2012; however there will be a significant reduction in Gazelle flying by 2010. The Gazelle is an older aircraft type with limited capability and is not deployed on combat roles. This decision will therefore have no impact on deployed military capability. Where there is an enduring requirement for the capability currently provided by Gazelle we are exploring arrangements based on leased aircraft.
	The decision to bring forward the Gazelle out of service date will lead to the disbandment of 7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers) (7 Regt AAC(V)) by 1 April 2009. 7 Regt AAC(V) is currently based at Netheravon with a flight each at Shawbury and Leachars. All affected personnel have been informed of the decision.

Lynx Helicopters: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the then Permanent Under Secretary at his Department was in taking the decision not to use a competitive process for the contract to meet the battlefield reconnaissance helicopter requirement.

Bob Ainsworth: The decision to use a non-competitive process for the procurement of the Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter requirement was taken by Ministers on the basis of advice from the Department's Equipment Approvals Committee. The then permanent under-secretary did not sit on that committee.

Military Aircraft: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the requirement for trained pilots for all three services has been in each year since 1997; and how many trained pilots entered the services in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the requirement for trained pilots for the RAF, the Fleet Air Arm and the Army for each year since 2001 and how many trained pilots entered service in each year. Data prior to 2001 is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Service  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  205-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Fleet air arm
			 Pilot requirement 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 
			 Trained pilots entering service 28 41 32 44 31 20 28 
			  Army
			 Pilot requirement 76 56 56 61 61 50 55 
			 Trained pilots entering service 41 46 43 41 50 46 45 
			  RAF
			 Pilot requirement 138 145 148 152 129 130 126 
			 Trained pilots entering service 120 150 130 140 120 134 128

Nuclear Weapons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that UK nuclear weapons susceptible to popcorning, with particular regard to  (a) their resistance to multiple simultaneous impacts and  (b) replacing the explosive currently used to surround the plutonium cores; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The safety of any nuclear warhead is of paramount importance in authorising its inclusion in the UK stockpile. I am satisfied with the safety of the current UK stockpile, which is reviewed continually to ensure acceptable levels of safety are maintained.
	For the purpose of safeguarding national security, I am not prepared to comment further on particular aspects of nuclear warhead design.

Veterans Day

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for grants for the 2008 Veterans' Day celebrations have been received.

Derek Twigg: By 31 May, the closing date for applications for funding for 2008 Veterans Day celebrations, a total of 121 applications had been received. We know that a number of other events are taking place which have not applied for funding.
	This year we encouraged organisers planning small scale events to team up to produce more substantial celebrations. The total value of grants awarded has increased.

Bus Services: Concessions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of local authorities in England do not make concessionary bus travel freely available before 9.30 a.m.; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are responsible for the statutory minimum concession. This guarantees free local bus travel throughout England for elderly and disabled people at weekends and from 9:30 am to 11 pm on weekdays. Local authorities are free to offer enhancements to this concession, such as earlier start times, taking into account local needs and overall financial priorities. However, as these enhancements are at local discretion no information is held on them centrally.

Departmental Planning Applications

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications her Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and its agencies have submitted the following planning and licensing applications in the last 24 months.
	
		
			   Planning applications 
			 Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) Nil 
			   
			 DFT Central Nil 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) The DSA has submitted 19 planning applications in respect of Multi-Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) at the following locations: 
			  Ayr, Burton, Colwick (Nottingham), Dundee, Fareham—Daedulus, Guildford, Haverfordwest, Kings Lynn (x2), Leicester, Cardington (x2), Swansea (x2), Taunton, Upminster, Greenham Common (Reading/Newbury), Farnborough, Burgess Hill 
			  Managing agents have submitted seven planning applications in respect of other driving test centres on behalf of DSA since April 2007 at the following locations: 
			  Portsmouth (Liddiard Gardens), Sutton in Ashfield, Belvedere, Bletchley, Redhill, Sheffield (Handsworth), Ellesmere Port 
			  Information prior to this date can be obtained only at disproportionate costs due to a change in agents 
			   
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Nil 
			   
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) The GCDA has submitted one planning application in respect of a scanning facility in external parts of its London HQ premises 
			   
			 Highways Agency (HA) Information is not held centrally and can, therefore, be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			   
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) The MCA has submitted 15 planning applications at the following locations: 
			  Bangor, Northern Island (outline planning application), Portrush, Northern Island (outline planning application), Tarbert, Argyle, Scotland (building extension), Cruden Bay, Scotland (new build), St. Boniface Radio Site (radio installation on new mast), MCA HQ, Southampton (generator installation), Whitstable, Kent (window replacement—conservation area), Weston-Super-Mare (building extension), Bideford (fitting out works—grade II listed building), Swanage (new build), Mortehoe (demolition of existing public toilets and new build), Broadhaven (building extension), Bembridge, Isle of White (building extension), Folkestone (fitting out works), Poole (refurbishment—grade II listed building) 
			   
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) VOSA has submitted 14 planning applications at the following locations 
			  Newcastle (redesign/modernisation of Goods Vehicle Testing Station—GVTS), Bristol (new GVTS), Chelmsford (redesign/modernisation of GVTS), Shrewsbury (redesign/modernisation of GVTS), Switch Island (upgrade of site and installation of portakabin), South Molton (installation of portakabin), Abingdon (installation of portakabin), Belvedere (construction of additional garage space), Beverley (construction of office extension), Leatherhead (upgrade of site and installation of portakabin), Tormarton (installation of portakabin), Mitcham (installation of portakabin), Carlisle (redesign/modernisation of GVTS), Immingham (change of use to enforcement site and installation of portakabin) 
		
	
	
		
			   Licensing applications 
			 Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) Nil 
			   
			 DFT Central Nil 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) DSA submitted four applications for music licences to cover the driving test centres, which play music in the waiting rooms. Licences with both Phonographic Performance Ltd. and Performing Rights Society are obtained each year 
			   
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) DVLA's Development Centre holds a premises licence (No: SJ022299) under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the supply of alcohol from the premises. An annual licence fee is paid to the city and county of Swansea council 
			   
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) Nil 
			   
			 Highways Agency (HA) Information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost 
			   
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Nil 
			   
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) Nil 
			   
			 Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) Nil

Driving Tests: Southend

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it cost to run the Southend driving test centre in each of the last 10 years  (a) in total and  (b) per test.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 20 June 2008
	The total accommodation costs for Southend driving test centre for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Amount shown in accounts  Year end accrual from previous year  Actual total for year 
			 2003 7,881 — 7,881 
			 2004 8,565 — 8,565 
			 2005 13,138 — 13,138 
			 2006 45,613 — 45,613 
			 2007 22,027 26,997 49,024 
		
	
	Owing to a change in the financial reporting system used by Driving Standards Agency (DSA), figures cannot be provided prior to 2003. The accommodation costs provided do not include further costs of operating a driving test centre such as salaries and travel and subsistence claims. DSA does not keep information about the cost per test of providing services by individual driving test centre.

Railways: Scotland

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1068W, on railways: Scotland, what the terms of reference are of Network Rail's development of longer-term options for the railway network; when she expects it to report; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: holding answer 26 June 2008
	The Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network including new lines and whether or not these should be conventional or high speed. As part of this, on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines. It will consider five of Network Rail's strategic routes, north and west of London: Chiltern, East Coast, West Coast, Great Western and Midland Main Lines. The study is expected to be complete in July 2009.

Whales: Japan

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the compliance of the Japanese government with the regulations of the International Whaling Commission (IWC); and what recent representations he has made to it on its observance of IWC regulations.

Jonathan R Shaw: The right of governments to issue permits for the killing of whales for scientific purposes is enshrined in Article VIII of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) the parent treaty of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). We doubt that the authors of the ICRW envisaged that parties would seek to conduct research on the scale now practised by Japan, but whether Japan's activities in this regard can be said to constitute an abuse of the rights granted by Article VIII of the ICRW is a matter which only the courts could determine—were anyone prepared to stand the cost of asking.
	Whether or not 'scientific' whaling is legal, we certainly regard it as undesirable since it undermines the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling and contributes little or nothing to our knowledge of the size and structure of whale populations.
	The UK takes every appropriate opportunity to make its opposition to Japan's 'scientific' whaling operations clear to the Japanese government. We have participated in a number of high level diplomatic protests in recent years and on 8 January this year I called in officials from the Japanese embassy in London to express the UK's outrage over Japan's whaling activities. At this year's IWC meeting in June the UK Commissioner to the IWC made it clear that we saw no justification for lethal scientific research on whales and called for Special Permit whaling to be brought within IWC control and phased out as quickly as possible.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many items there are in the Government Art Collection; and what the value of the collection is.

Margaret Hodge: There are approximately 13,500 works of art in the Government art collection.
	It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the value of the Government art collection, which has no current market valuation. The current monetary value of a work of art can be accurately assessed only at the time of purchase or sale or by professional valuation. In the former case, the collection is not actively traded; in the latter, it would not be justifiable expenditure of public funds to have the whole collection valued professionally.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many items from the Government Art Collection are on loan to  (a) UK and  (b) overseas institutions, governments and galleries.

Margaret Hodge: The Government Art Collection lends works of art from its holdings for display in United Kingdom Government buildings in the UK and abroad in order to promote British art, culture and history to visitors.
	 (a) There are currently 3,732 works of art on loan to UK Government buildings in the UK. There are 116 works of art on loan to institutions and galleries in the UK.
	 (b) There are 5,428 works of art on loan to UK Government buildings overseas. There are six works of art on loan to institutions, governments and galleries overseas.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much it cost to maintain the Government Art Collection in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Total resource costs of Government Art Collection  Net GAC programme cost  Of which conservation and restoration costs  GAC administration cost  GAC capitalised additions to collection 
			 2003-04 808 313 181 495 220 
			 2004-05 884 348 194 536 287 
			 2005-06 918 352 177 566 242 
			 2006-07 958 346 221 612 228 
			 2007-08 1,033 395 218 638 314 
		
	
	Programme costs mainly comprise conservation and restoration, and transport of works of art. The table lists conservation and restoration costs separately for ease of reference. Staff and associated costs are included under administration costs. Expenditure on purchases of works of art from the capital budget is set out in the final column.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed to maintain and advise on the Government Art Collection.

Margaret Hodge: On 31 May 2008 15 staff were employed to maintain and advise on the Government Art Collection.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many art works from the Government Art Collection have been  (a) sold and  (b) loaned permanently to institutions and individuals outside the UK in the last 10 years; and what the value was of such works in each year.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) No works of art have been sold from the Government Art Collection in the last 10 years.
	 (b) There are six works of art on long-term loan to institutions outside the UK which are not UK Government buildings. HMG retains title to these items and so their financial value remains on the DCMS balance sheet.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many art works were purchased by the Government Art Collection in each of the last 10 years; and what the value was of such purchases in each year.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of works purchased  Cost (£) 
			 1998-99 95 125,262 
			 1999-2000 152 194,296 
			 2000-01 81 134,440 
			 2001-02 54 158,926 
			 2002-03 63 279,393 
			 2003-04 64 225,119 
			 2004-05 52 295,169 
			 2005-06 50 241,745 
			 2006-07 43 227,590 
			 2007-08 65 314,367

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have visited the Government Art Collection in the last 12 months; and how many were not associated with  (a) the UK Government or  (b) overseas governments.

Margaret Hodge: From 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2008, approximately 2,000 people visited the Government art collection, of whom about 1,700 were not associated with the UK or overseas Governments.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department in the last 24 months.

Shahid Malik: Over the last 24 months a total of 115 passes have been reported as lost or stolen by Department for International Development (DFID) staff in the UK. We do not hold a central record of passes lost by staff in our overseas offices and this data could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to increase access to HIV positive preventative services for  (a) injecting drug users and  (b) men who have sexual intercourse with men in developing countries.

Gillian Merron: 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK' strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' places at its heart the needs and rights of women, young people, children and vulnerable groups, including injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. The international goal of universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support requires a commitment to equity, inclusion and human rights. The UK Government are intensifying efforts to increase the coverage of HIV/AIDS services for injecting drug users in countries where they are most affected and to improve the international environment on harm reduction, particularly through advocating for a stronger reflection on harm reduction and AIDS at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2009. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will work with the Department for International Development (DFID) to ensure broad and effective UK support.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the earmarking of AIDS aid for children; and whether such earmarked funds will be incorporated in the new AIDS Strategy.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development's previous AIDS strategy 'Taking Action' was launched in 2004. This set a £150 million earmark for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The earmark was an important step in accelerating action. Considerable progress has been made against the target, and initial estimates suggest we have exceeded it. It is likely that future support to orphans and vulnerable children from other donors will also increase in the coming years.
	The UK Government continue to place the needs and rights of children affected by AIDS at the heart of our updated AIDS strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world'. Over the next three years we are committed to expanding our social protection programmes to over £200 million, which will be channelled both through government and non-governmental organisations. Evidence has shown that integrating the needs of orphans and vulnerable children into social protection programmes, including cash transfers, is highly effective in reaching children affected by AIDS and promoting their access to basic services.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what means his Department will disburse the £2.5 billion allocated to AIDS in the Developing World over the next three years; and whether any private organisations will be involved in the implementation of this aid.

Gillian Merron: In "Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world" the UK Government committed £6 billion to strengthen health systems and services over seven years to 2015. The UK Government have also committed to spend over £200 million on social protection over three years to support the most vulnerable households, including orphans and vulnerable children. Funding for research and development of AIDS vaccines and microbicides will be increased by at least 50 per cent. over 2008-13. In addition to these recent commitments, the UK Government have made a long-term commitment of £1 billion (2007-15) to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
	In countries with strong commitments to development, Department for International Development (DFlD) support is focused on the implementation of comprehensive country-led HIV/AIDS strategies, directly funding governments and working with civil society partners and donor agencies. In more fragile states, where governments are less effective, we provide technical support to strengthen government capacity as well as direct support for service delivery by civil society organisations. Half of our support reaches countries through international agencies including UNAIDS, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank and the European Commission. The private sector plays a significant role in the provision of services, through funding and research, influencing governments and promoting workplace policies and corporate responsibility programmes which mitigate the impact of AIDS.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to commit funding to the global AIDS strategy to contribute to a reduction in the strategy's funding gap;
	(2)  how much money the Government will be required to commit to the global AIDS strategy to remain the world's second largest AIDS donor in the next financial year;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to secure donations and assistance to the global AIDS strategy from other countries.

Gillian Merron: We are unaware of an internationally agreed global AIDS Strategy. However, the UK Government are determined to play its part in closing the AIDS funding gap, estimated by UNAIDS to be US$ 40 billion by 2010—a highly ambitious quadrupling of current spending over just three years. That is why we made several new financial commitments in our recently published updated seven year strategy "Achieving Universal Access—UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world". These commitments include: £6 billion over seven years to strengthen health systems and £200 million over three years to support social protection programmes.
	Our objective is to combat HIV and AIDS and we will continue to encourage other countries and institutions to meet their commitments.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Access—the UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Developing Countries: Infant Mortality

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to address child mortality in developing countries, with particular reference to those developing countries with the highest mortality rates.

Gillian Merron: Progress on strengthening health systems in poor countries is vital if we are to accelerate progress towards achieving the child health Millennium Development Goal. This is why, along with other UN health agencies and a wide range of donors and country partners, DFID has championed the International Health Partnership designed to strengthen health systems and improve in-country donor coordination.
	The UK also contributes to global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria, The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation and Roll Back Malaria, which have helped raise awareness of childhood diseases and substantially increased the resources directed towards improving child health. The UK is also the second biggest donor to UNICEF and supports action to improve child health in several countries including Burundi, DRC, Nepal and Sudan.
	On 2 June the UK Government's updated seven-year AIDS strategy Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world was launched. This made several commitments which will benefit children including 6 billion over seven years to strengthen health systems and 200 million over three years to support social protection programmes.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Accessthe UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website: www.dfid.gov.uk.

Family Planning: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what payments his Department has made to  (a) Marie Stopes International,  (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation and  (c) the United Nations Population Fund for (i) abortion, (ii) family planning and (iii) other reproductive health services in 2007-08; how much is planned for 2008-09; what restrictions his Department places on the use of such funds; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to break down spending by (i) abortion, (ii) family planning, and (iii) other reproductive health services. However, DFID provided the following amounts to the organisations named;
	In 2007-08 DFID provided 854,432 to Marie Stopes International (MSI) in support of 10 projects in developing countries to improve sexual and reproductive health services. Estimated disbursement figure for 2008-09 is expected to be about 700,000 for six projects.
	In 2007-08 DFID provided 7.5 million of un-earmarked funding to the central budget of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and 20 million of un-earmarked funding to the central budget of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) in 2007-08. Un-earmarked central funding carries no restrictions and enables IPPF and UNFPA to deliver their strategic plans, which include improving sexual and reproductive health services (including provision of safe abortion services where these are legal) and family planning, as agreed by their member states through their governing bodies. DFID's 2008-09 central budget contributions to IPPF and UNFPA are still being considered and will be announced soon.
	DFID provided a further 2.050 million to IPPF towards the multi-donor funded Safe Action Abortion Fund (SAAF) and an additional 107,000 to IPPF in 2007-08 for a safe motherhood project in Asia which is now completed. DFID estimates a further 1.2 million will be allocated to IPPF for the SAAR in 2008-09.
	DFID will also provide a total of 100 million between 2008-13 to support UNFPA's Global Programme to Enhance Reproductive Health Commodity Security. This will benefit the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and men in developing countries including access to life saving drugs and equipment to improve maternal health.

Overseas Aid: Health Professions

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Health and  (b) relevant stakeholders on the quality of the contribution to be made to aid efforts by healthcare workers volunteering on development and relief programmes.

Gillian Merron: Department of Health (DH) and the Department for International Development discussed this topic extensively in relation to the Government's response to Lord Crisp's report, Global Health Partnerships: The UK contribution to health in developing countries. I have had meetings with Lord Crisp, my DH counterpart Dawn Primarolo, and the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), a key stakeholder. DFID and DH value long-term sustainable partnerships in the health sector, and consider there are significant opportunities for healthcare professionals to participate in international development.
	As outlined in the Government response to Lord Crisp's report, DH is producing a framework for international development; this will update their International Humanitarian and Health Work: Toolkit to support good practice and be a guide for those considering developing country work. DFID and DH also commissioned an independent evaluation of links programmes between UK and developing country health organisations to identify what has worked well and good practice lessons. This will help inform the design of (i) a new funding scheme for links, and (ii) a Links Centre, which will include information for individuals wishing to volunteer for humanitarian work.
	As this work is implemented both departments continue discussions with key stakeholders. For example, officials from both DFID and DH participated in the recent twentieth anniversary national health links conference organised by THET.

Child Support

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of outstanding Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Operational Improvement Plan is delivering impressive results on outstanding cases. Uncleared new scheme applications have fallen from 221,000 to just under 107,000. Uncleared old scheme applications have fallen from 65,000 to 27,000.
	The Agency continues to clear more cases per month than in receives.

Departmental Service Delivery

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage innovative policy development by his Department's staff to improve service delivery.

Stephen Timms: All our agencies are committed to delivering a first class service to their customers. Jobcentre Plus, for example, is an acknowledged world leader.
	To further improve our service, we are increasingly devolving the power to those best placed to delivergiving control to customers, to advisers, to providers and to communities to help provide the service people deserve.
	One way of ensuring this is to encourage provider organisations with whom we
	work to suggest innovative programmesin effect giving them a right to bidso that we can consider how best we might make use of their innovation and flexibility.

Equality

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to establish a strategy to tackle age discrimination and promote age equality in the provision of goods and services  (a) by the Department and  (b) within the sectors for which he has policy responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to age equality, and providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. The Department's published equality schemes 2008 to 2011 (which can be viewed at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/equalityschemes/progress.asp) include commitments on age.
	The Department will review its policies and practices on age equality in the light of the Government's proposals for its Equality Bill. The document A Framework for a Fairer FutureThe Equality Bill published 26 June (Cm 7431 available at http://www.equalities.gov.uk/publications/frameworkforafairerfuture.doc) outlines the steps which will be taken to streamline and strengthen the law.
	In 2006 the Government introduced legislation prohibiting unjustified direct and indirect age discrimination in employment and vocational training. Age Positive seeks to promote the business benefits to employers of employing older people as part of a mixed age workforce and challenge the ageist myths that some employers still believe.
	The Department has been putting in place a number of initiatives to improve older people's quality of life. Through LinkAge Plus pilots, we have brought together a range of Government Departments, agencies and voluntary and community organisations to provide a seamless range of services including housing, transport and volunteering.
	We are running face to face pilots to test how best to deliver the information and guidance available to older workers on their choice for work and retirement.

Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cash support payments are paid to  (a) single people aged between 16 and 18 years and  (b) single people under 16 years of age under support arrangements for those with unresolved asylum applications.

Liam Byrne: The latest available information indicates that in the week commencing 23 June-2008 there were 709 persons aged 16 or 17 years and 10,784 persons aged under 16 in receipt of support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for whom cash payments were ordered. It is estimated that about 5 per cent. of payments ordered in any one week are not collected.
	This is based on management information which is not a national statistic and is subject to change. It does not cover unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are supported by local authorities.

Asylum: Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons from Somalia  (a) arrived in the UK,  (b) sought asylum,  (c) were granted refugee status and  (d) were deported to Somalia in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 July 2008
	The latest available information requested is shown in the following tables. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. Removals do not necessarily relate to refused applications decided in the same period. Destination data for persons removed from the UK have only been collated since 2004, so this information is not available for earlier years. Removal figures only relate to those removed to Somalia and not to other destinations. Leave to enter the UK data is not yet available for 2007.
	Information on immigration control is published annually and asylum information is published annually and quarterly. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
	
		
			  Total Somalia nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom, 2002 to 2006( 1) 
			   Number of journeys 
			 2002 10,200 
			 2003 7,460 
			 2004 5,330 
			 2005 5,610 
			 2006 3,540 
			 ( 1)  Provisional figures. Rounded to three significant figures. 
		
	
	
		
			  Asylum applications( 1)  received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions( 2)  on applications, 2003 to 2007, nationals of Somalia . Principal applicants 
			   Applications 
			   Total  Port  In country 
			 2003 5,090 660 4,430 
			 2004 2,585 305 2,280 
			 2005 1,760 250 1,510 
			 2006(3) 1,845 245 1,600 
			 2007(3) 1,620 265 1,350 
		
	
	
		
			   Decisions 
			   Total decisions  Grants of asylum  Grants of ELR( 4)  Grants of HP( 4)  Grants of DL( 4)  Total refusals  Certified refusals  Other refusals  3rd ctry refusals( 5)  Non-compliance  refusals( 6) 
			 2003 6,050 1,665 160 5 390 3,835 140 3,140 90 465 
			 2004 3,275 455 n/a 10 455 2,355 (7) 1,930 235 190 
			 2005 1,850 660 n/a 5 190 1,000 0 830 100 70 
			 2006(3) 1,725 655 n/a 5 160 905 (7) 695 160 50 
			 2007(3) 1,615 795 n/a 5 105 710 5 595 80 35 
			 (1 )Figures rounded to nearest 5. (2 )Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3 )Provisional figures. (4 )Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003. (5 )Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country. (6 )Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview. (7 )1 or 2.  Note:  n/a = not applicable.  Source: Immigration Research and Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns( 1, 2)  of Somali asylum applicants, excluding dependants removed to Somalia, 2004 to 2007( 3) 
			  Number of removals 
			   Somali asylum applicants removed to Somalia 
			 2004 25 
			 2005 15 
			 2006(4) 40 
			 2007(4) 35 
			 (1 )Includes persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. (2 )Removals since 2005 include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (3 )Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. (4 )Provisional figures.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Community Relations: Extremism

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on what her Department's share of the pledged 12.5 million to help prevent extremism in communities will be spent; and over what period of time her Department's share of the funding will be spent;
	(2)  how the pledged 12.5 million to help prevent extremism in communities will be divided between departments involved.

Tony McNulty: The 12.5 million from the Home Office to help prevent extremism in communities will be spent on funding projects specifically to support institutions or individuals vulnerable to radicalisation. New schemes will include:
	1 million for the Home Office to extend police-led multi agency projects to identify and support vulnerable individuals at risk of being targeted by violent extremists.
	3.5 million to Youth Offending Teams and Youth Secure Establishments on new work to prevent violent extremism, focused on supporting young individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
	7.25 million to the National Offender Management Service and partner agencies to do further work in prisons and the community to tackle vulnerability to radicalisation among offenders
	750,000 for the Home Office to fund further grassroots projects aimed at tackling radicalisation.
	All of the 12.5 million pledged will be spent in the 2008-09 financial year.

Demonstrations: Parliament Square

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications have been made for authorisation for demonstrations in Parliament Square on 15 June 2008 under section 133 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 13 June 2008
	 According to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police there was an application for an authorisation for a demonstration in Parliament Square under section 133 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act on 15 June by the Stop the War Coalition.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by her Department for a cost in excess of 0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Records are kept of new builds and major refurbishments above 1 million. There were none in this period. In 2007-08 two new builds were acquired through leases where design and construction was to the Department's specification. One of these was rated BREEAM Excellent, the other Very Good. Both contained leading edge sustainability measures, however one lost points because of the requirement to provide car parking to a large number of operational staff working shifts from a location with limited public transport.

Dogs

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will provide a breakdown of the training and running costs for her Department and its agencies associated with products of animal origin detector dogs and their handlers in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: Details of the number of Products of Animal Origin Detector dogs and a breakdown of training and running costs associated with these dogs and their handlers for the years 2003 to 2007 inclusive are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of dogs  Cost of outsourced training per course for up to four handlers (including supply of dogs) ()  In-house training (four months per dog)  (months)  Cost of acquiring dogs (some dogs were gifted to the Department) ()  Running costs (handler, food, vet, transport, etc.) () 
			 2003 2 15,000 4 (1) 92,000 
			 2004 6 30,000 8 5,000 234,000 
			 2005 10 (2) 8 11,300 306,000 
			 2006 11 (2) (3) (1) 296,000 
			 2007 11 (2) (3) (1) 296,000 
			 (1) No dogs acquired (2) No outsourced training (3) No in-house training 
		
	
	This represents hard costs of:
	
		
			
			 2003 107,000 
			 2004 269,000 
			 2005 317,300 
			 2006 296,000 
			 2007 296,000 
		
	
	The number of dogs column relates to dogs and handlers in situ in those years.

Driving Under Influence: Testing

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she issues to police forces on  (a) training given to police officers in undertaking (i) field impairment tests and (ii) preliminary impairment tests and  (b) the frequency of refresher training; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not issue formal guidance to police officers nationally on field impairment tests, or refresher training. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) together with the Department of Transport run a mandatory field impairment test (FIT) and drug recognition training (DRT) for police officers who wish to be authorised to conduct impairment testing in compliance with the Road Traffic Act 1988. Successful completion is based on the candidate's ability to pass an exam and demonstrate competence in impairment testing.
	Currently, only Hampshire Constabulary and Northamptonshire police are authorised by ACPO to provide formal FIT and DRT to police officers.

Immigration Controls

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to create a dedicated EU passports channel at the UK border and immigration control points in the  (a) Gare du Midi, Brussels and  (b) Gare du Nord, Paris; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency currently operate four control points at the Eurostar terminal at Brussels Gare du Midi and six control points at the terminal at Paris Gare du Nord. In view of increasing passenger numbers the Gare du Nord is currently being redeveloped to provide eight control points.
	The efficiency of passenger clearance at the UK border is kept under review, and changes are made where they are considered to benefit passenger throughput, without having an adverse impact upon border security. The majority of passengers travelling to the UK on Eurostar services from Brussels and Paris are nationals of EU countries and all passengers, including those who are non-EU nationals, can be dealt with quickly without any segregation. There is consequently no dedicated EU channel at either station and currently no plan to introduce such a channel.

UK Border Agency: Telephone Services

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library telephone and fax numbers of desk officers at the UK Visas with the UK Border Agency upon which hon. Members may contact a member of staff directly or leave a message which will affect a response; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The UK Border Agency has a dedicated MPs' Hotline telephone service for hon. Members. The Hotline operates from 9.00am to 6.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 10.30 am to 6.00 pm on Fridays.
	The telephone and fax numbers have been placed in the Library of the House.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much timber and timber products were procured by her Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Liam Byrne: While there is no FLEGT licensing schemes yet in place, the Home Office actively seeks to buy all wood and wood products (including furniture) from legal and sustainable sources. Data on quantity are not recorded centrally and there is no longer a requirement for expenditure to be recorded. We have data for two years within the last five: this is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   
			   Value of timber from legal and sustainable sources  Value of timber products from legal and sustainable sources. 
			 2003-04 1,252,000 3,489,986 
			 2004-05 292,000 1,209,000 
			 (1) Includes Prison Service

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families have taken up childcare vouchers in each year since the scheme's inception.

Jane Kennedy: There is no official data collected in relation to the number of employers who offer child care voucher schemes or the number of employees or families, who receive them. Employers who offer child care vouchers are not required to provide this data to HMRC. This is consistent with the wider objective of reducing burdens on business.
	HMRC commissions periodic research into the level of uptake among employers and employees. The latest research was the survey conducted by the National Centre for Social Research who published their report in December 2006.
	This research estimates that 36 per cent. of employees have access to employer supported child care.
	The full report can be seen on the HMRC website at the following link:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report23-final.pdf

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure the Office of Government Commerce publishes the names of central government construction clients who do not pay their suppliers within 30 days.

Angela Eagle: Each Department should publish such performance data, for all its procurement activity, in its annual report and accounts.
	OGC does not keep a central record of departmental performance across central Government.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of central government construction clients pay their suppliers within 30 days.

Angela Eagle: OGC does not hold a central record of departmental performance across central Government. However, Departments are required to publish a summary of their payment performance for all their procurement activity in their Annual Report and Accounts.

Departmental Billing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) monitors the implementation of the fair payment initiative's commitment to more efficient payment procedures by central government construction clients; and when the OGC intends to report on the matter to his Department.

Angela Eagle: To measure progress in implementing the Fair Payment Initiative OGC has commissioned an independent body to report on progress through to 2010, as announced in July 2007 and available at:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/news_2007_7409.asp.
	OGC will subsequently publish the findings.

Economic and Monetary Union

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions in domestic legislation enable the UK to take action pursuant to measures adopted by the Council of Ministers under article 59 of the Treaty establishing the European Community to safeguard the operation of economic and monetary union from serious difficulties caused by movements of capital to and from third countries; whether  (a) the UK,  (b) the Channel Islands and  (c) the Isle of Man are considered third countries for the purposes of this article; what voting provisions will apply to this article in the Council of Ministers following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; if he will make it his policy to oppose any proposed measure under this article which would affect the liquidity and competitiveness of the UK's financial system; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Government are committed to promoting economic prosperity by maintaining financial stability, internationally and in the UK, promoting global prosperity, and promoting a fair and efficient financial sector. The Government would take these objectives into consideration before they opposed or accepted any proposed measure.
	The 2002 Enterprise Act covers a range of enterprise measures aimed at strengthening the UK's competition framework, including monitoring and control of inwards investment from third countries. This builds on competition and inward investment controls for third countries laid out in the 1998 Competition Act through specific measures to act upon anti-competitive agreements, cartels and abuses of a dominant position.
	Neither  (a) the UK,  (b) the Channel Islands nor  (c) the Isle of Man are considered third countries for the purposes of article 59 of the treaty establishing the European Community.
	Article 66 of the treaty of Lisbon concerns the functioning of the European Union. Under this Article, the Council of Ministers would act by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Central Bank.

Meat: Smuggling

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much bush meat was seized on arrival into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: There is no precise definition of bushmeat, which is generally understood to be the meat of wild animals hunted for food. Central Government statistical records of illegal meat seizures do not separately identify bushmeat. HM Revenue and Customs record seizures of illegally imported meat and animal products as bushmeat where this was how the owners described the meat to customs officials. Their central records show the total quantities of such meat seized on arrival in Great Britain for each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			   Weight seized (k g) 
			 2003-04 1,748 
			 2004-05 2,812 
			 2005-06 2,534 
			 2006-07 3,399 
			 2007-08 1,506

National Debt: National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt  (a) received from and  (b) returned to the National Lottery Distribution Fund in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: I understand the question to relate to  (a) the annual total of lottery operator-related income advanced to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt (CRND) by the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF), and  (b) total annual drawdowns from the investment account made by distributing bodies.
	The figures (in  millions) set out in the following table are from 2000-01; for figures dating, back before this period please contact Department for Culture, Media and Sports directly.
	
		
			  National Lottery Distribution Fund 
			   million 
			   Received from  Drawdown by 
			 2000-01 1,540.7 1,855.1 
			 2001-02 1,652.8 1,709.6 
			 2002-03 1,381.7 1,893.3 
			 2003-04 1,310.4 1,912.6 
			 2004-05 1,353.5 1,704.3 
			 2005-06 1,381.5 1,843.6 
			 2006-07 1,209.1 1,616.0 
			 2007-08 1,203.0 1,429.9

National Minimum Wage

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the savings in working tax credit of an increase in the adult rate of the national minimum wage of  (a) 30 pence,  (b) 50 pence,  (c) 1,  (d) 1.50 and  (e) 2.00;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the I gross, (2) net costs and (2) savings to his Department of an increase in the adult rate of the national minimum wage of (i) 30 pence, (ii) 50 pence, (iii) 1, (iv) 1.50 and (v) 2.00.

Kitty Ussher: Changes in expenditure and revenue are not only dependent on the level of the national minimum wage, but also the macroeconomic effects of an increase to the national minimum wage.
	It is very difficult to reliably estimate the savings induced by an increase of the minimum wage.

Revenue and Customs: Visits Abroad

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which overseas destinations were visited by HM Revenue and Customs staff in the financial year 2007-08; how many visits were made to each destination; and what the cost to the public purse was of visits to each destination.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC currently have around 85,000 staff. From information available, the total cost for overseas business travel made by HMRC employees for the financial period 2007-08 is 1,751,257.
	The duties of HMRC staff cover a wide range of posts and some roles in particular require overseas travel and accommodation in support of key departmental objectives for example, EU policy development, enforcement of prohibition and restrictions and mutual administrative assistance.
	In relation to hotels booked through HMRC's travel contract, the contract commenced in April 2007. However, the hotel element of the contract was not implemented until July 2007. Therefore the figures provided in the total above relate to the period July 2007 to March 2008 only. The spend for bookings in the period April 2007 to June 2007 is not available except at disproportionate cost.
	For policy and operational reasons we are unable to disclose which overseas destinations HMRC employees travel to.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department had with  (a) Welsh Assembly Government officials and  (b) officials of other Departments officials on the proposed closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices at (i) Cherry Grove Haverfordwest and (ii) Pembroke Dock.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs through its Workforce Change teams has regular meetings with Welsh Assembly officials and proactively engages with other government departments about staffing issues across the whole of Wales.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of accident and emergency admissions which took place in the week commencing  (a) 24 March and  (b) 31 March 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The primary source of information on accident and emergency (AE) activity is the QMAE dataset, which collects and publishes information, including on emergency admissions via type 1 AE departments in England, on a quarterly basis. The most recently-published data shows that there were 771,217 emergency admissions via type 1 AE departments in England for the period January to March (quarter four) 2007-08.
	Limited information on emergency admissions via type 1 AE departments is collected from national health service trusts as weekly, unvalidated data for performance management purposes.
	Information is available on attendances at AE departments but this is collected separately.

Baby Care Units: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many level 3 intensive care cots were available for neo-natal care in each of the acute trusts in the East of England Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The average daily number of available beds in neonatal intensive care wards (also known as level 3 wards) for national health service acute providers in the east of England strategic health authority (SHA) area can be found in the following table. There have been concerns raised recently about the definitions used for neonatal intensive care cots in the KH03 return. The concerns have been around the definition using the ward type of where the cot is located as part of the definition. This has caused confusion among some trusts of where to record their neonatal intensive care cots and has caused inconsistency in reporting. These concerns will be investigated with the view of ensuring a robust and clear definition is developed for the 2008-09 collection.
	We understand that the SHA is currently consulting on the proposals set out in its clinical vision document, Towards the best, together, including proposals for the future of maternity services in the region. The public consultation will continue to 4 August 2008, and we encourage the hon. Member to engage with this process.
	
		
			  Average daily number of available beds in wards, ward classification 'Intensive care: Neonates', acute NHS providers in East of England SHA area 
			  Organisation name  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 
			 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 32 31 18 13 13 13 13 
			 Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust 0 0 0 0 18 18 18 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 17 23 37 37 37 37 36 
			 Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 3 3 7 3 3 3 3 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 5 5 5 5 6 8 8 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 22 22 22 22 22 22 25 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 
			 Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 15 4 16 16 19 18 19 
			 The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 
			 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust 10 10 8 9 12 12 12 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 6 4 4 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 
			  Notes:  1. Intensive care: patients requiring advanced respiratory support alone or basic respiratory support together with support of at least two organ systems. This level (level 3) includes all complex patients requiring support for multi-organ failure.  2. James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are not included in the table because they do not provide neonatal intensive care beds.  Source:  Department of Health KH03 return.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of women in Tamworth constituency have received cervical smear tests within the recommended period of time in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency. The following table shows the requested information for South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	
		
			  Cervical Screening Programme: coverage( 1)  of the target age group (25-64) for South Staffordshire PCT, as at 31 March 2007 
			  Percentage 
			Coverage (less than 3.5 years since last adequate test)  Coverage (less than 5 years since last adequate test) 
			  England 69.4 79.2 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 76.6 82.4 
			 (1) Coverage is defined as the percentage of women in a population eligible for screening at a given point in time (31 March 2007) who were less than the specified period since their last test producing an adequate test result.  Note: National policy for the cervical screening programme is that eligible women aged 25 to 64 should be screened every three or five years (women aged 25 to 49 are screened every three years, those aged 50 to 64 every five years).  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care

Children: Diabetes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reduce the number of emergency hospital admissions of children with diabetes.

Ann Keen: In April 2007, the Department published Making every Young Person with Diabetes Matter, the report of the Children and Young People with Diabetes Working Group, copies of this Report have been placed in the Library. The Report looked at ways to improve diabetes services for children and young people, including better commissioning and workforce planning, to improve care and thereby reduce the incidence of emergency hospital admissions. The report's recommendations are being taken forward by an implementation group led by Dr. Sheila Shribman, National Clinical Director for Children, and including representatives from Diabetes UK, the Royal Colleges, the Healthcare Commission and other partner organisations committed to facilitating the implementation of best practice nationally.

Dementia: Chester

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers for people with dementia there are in  (a) the City of Chester constituency and  (b) Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Epilepsy: Health Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will review the level of counselling and support provided by the NHS to women with epilepsy during pregnancy;
	(2)  what plans he has to improve the services for people with epilepsy provided by the NHS in the next three years.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of local health commissioners to provide services to meet the needs of their local population living with epilepsy. Local health bodies are expected to work towards the implementation of the National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions (copies of which have already been placed in the Library), and health professionals are expected to implement the guidance on the treatment and management of epilepsy issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
	Departmental officials have recently met with representatives of the Joint Epilepsy Council and Epilepsy Bereaved to discuss issues of concern to those with epilepsy.
	We have no plans to review the level of counselling and support provided to women with epilepsy in pregnancy.

General Practitioners

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices have  (a) opened and  (b) closed in each constituency in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect centrally the number of closures of general practitioner (GP) surgeries. This data is held locally by primary care trusts.
	However, we do collect data on number of GP practices and practitioners, at a given date for each year. This is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of GP practices in England, as at 1997 to 2007 
			   Total GP practices  Total number of GPs( 1) 
			 1997 9,102 28,046 
			 1998 9,090 28,251 
			 1999 9,034 28,467 
			 2000 8,965 28,593 
			 2001 8,910 28,802 
			 2002 8,833 29,202 
			 2003 8,833 30,358 
			 2004 8,542 31,523 
			 2005 8,451 32,738 
			 2006 8,325 33,091 
			 2007 8,261 33,364 
			 (1) Excluding GP registrars and GP retainers.  Note: Data as at 1 October 1997-99, 30 September 2000-07.  Source: The Information Centre for health and Social Care, General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

General Practitioners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results were of the most recent patient survey on access for GP practices in  (a) Selly Oak constituency,  (b) South Birmingham primary care trust,  (c) other primary care trusts in Birmingham,  (d) Birmingham,  (e) the West Midlands and  (f) England.

Ben Bradshaw: The Information Centre for health and social care have pre-announced publication of the results of the 2008 GP Patient Access Survey for 16 July 2008.
	The 2007 GP Patient Survey Access results have been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners: Manpower

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time general practitioners are registered to work in Bournemouth.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not held in the format requested. Information is available at primary care trust (PCT) level for numbers of general practitioners (GPs) by headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE).
	The latest available information for GPs is for 2007. Information for Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT area is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) in Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT, 30 September 2007 
			  Numbers (headcount) and full time equivalents 
			   Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 
			 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount 228 
			 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) FTE 211 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care.

General Practitioners: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the GP to patient ratio within Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	The table shows the number of patients per general practitioner (GP) in the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust (PCT) area, as at 30 September 2007. These are the latest figures available.
	
		
			  Numbers of patients per GP as at 30 September 2007 
			  Organisation  All GPs (excluding retainers and registrars)  Registered patients  Patients per GP 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 145 245,966 1,696 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics.

General Practitioners: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the GP to patient ratio within the South Staffordshire NHS Primary Care Trust area was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Numbers of patients per practitioner by selected primary care trust (PCT) in England, as at 30 September 2007 
			   All practitioners (excluding registrars and retainers)  Registered patients  Patients per practitioner 
			 England 33,364 53,588,174 1,606 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 349 603,057 1,728 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care

Health Services: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the effectiveness of payment by results in the acute sector in the East of England; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: No specific assessment has been made of the effectiveness of payment by results in the acute sector in the East of England.
	However, the Department does sponsor independent research into the national implementation and effectiveness of payment by results. The latest study, The National Evaluation of Payment by Results, has been completed by the Health Economics Research Unit of the University of Aberdeen.
	Copies of this Report have been placed in the Library, and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Financeandplanning/NHSFinancialReforms/DH_4138133

Health: Summertime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on children's health of a change to British Summer Time in winter and double British Summer Time in summer.

Ann Keen: We have made no such assessment.

Hospitals: Infections

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that the Health Act 2006Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Health Care Associated Infections is implemented effectively.

Ann Keen: The Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections came into force on 1 October 2006 and compliance is assessed by the Healthcare Commission (HCC).
	The HCC has the power to issue an improvement notice to a national health service body that is not compliant with the code. In addition to self-declarations on compliance with the code, the HCC make unannounced visits to assess NHS bodies. During 2007-08 the HCC carried out 120 unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the code, with a focus on acute trusts, and issued three improvement notices. All three trusts subsequently demonstrated that they had improved and were compliant with the code. To further strengthen this process, from April 2008, specialist teams from the HCC are carrying out annual infection control inspections of all acute trusts against the code. This inspection programme is under way and, to date, the HCC has issued one improvement notice as part of this programme.

Neurology: Palliative Care

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how he plans to monitor progress towards implementation in 2015 of the National Service Framework for Long-Term Neurological Conditions;
	(2)  if he will provide guidance to local NHS organisations to ensure implementation of the 11 quality requirements within the National Service Framework for Long-Term Neurological Conditions.

Ann Keen: Progress on implementation of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term Conditions (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) will be measured in a number of ways, including:
	research studies commissioned as part of a national research initiative to underpin implementation of the NSF, to provide baseline data needed to measure the subsequent impact of the NSF;
	work to develop a national minimum dataset for long-term neurological conditions; and
	implementation of clinical indicators developed as part of the Better Metrics Programme.
	We have no plans to issue guidance to ensure implementation of the NSF. Since publication of the NSF, the Department has co-ordinated a range of activity to help local authority social care organisations and national health service bodies take forward implementation of the NSF. This includes:
	working with key NHS, social care, voluntary and independent sector stakeholders, as well as service users and carers, to identify and address key issues in neurological services and the stakeholders' role in implementation;
	ensuring that other key delivery programmes, most especially the White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) and the long-term conditions strategy help deliver key NSF objectives; and
	work with the Care Services Improvement Partnership to promote implementation of the NSF through a co-ordinated work programme, including regional workshops, a web-based getting started pack and self-assessment tool for services.

NHS

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms his Department has put in place to enable patients to provide feedback on their experience of local NHS services.

Ann Keen: The Government are committed to engaging patients and the public in the design and delivery of their local health services by making services more responsive and by giving people more opportunities to comment on and influence the care they receive.
	The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, contained important measures designed to strengthen the patient and public involvement system in England, including the introduction of local involvement networks (LINks) and the updated duty on National Health Service bodies to involve users of health services.
	LINks, together with the new duty on NHS bodies to involve, and to report on consultations, will play a vital role in encouraging and enabling a greater range of people to influence the commissioning and provision of health care bringing meaningful engagement to the whole system, from commissioning to front-line care.
	The Department is also in the process of reviewing the NHS complaints system to create a single, more simple system covering all NHS and adult social care services. The new approach will mean that the experience of making a complaint is easier and will ensure that lessons are routinely learned from complaints, feeding into service improvement.
	The National Patient Survey Programme, collects feedback on the quality of service delivery from the point of view of patients and service users. Since its inception, over 20 surveys have been conducted across seven different settings, and well over 1 million patients have taken part. Surveys are conducted by the Healthcare Commission.

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) private providers and  (b) NHS providers to the NHS are entitled to an uplift in fees in line with (i) inflation and (ii) public sector pay increases.

Ben Bradshaw: Neither private providers nor national health service providers are entitled to an automatic uplift in fees in line with inflation or public sector pay increases.
	In the case of clinical services, the prices service providers receive through their contracts are set through negotiation and agreement with the service commissioner, taking into account the actual costs of providing those services. This applies to both NHS bodies and private providers. Any clinical services provided under the rules of the Payment by Results system will be subject to the standard national tariff uplift.
	In contracts for cleaning and similar services, there is normally no automatic price increase, although this is a matter for negotiation. Private sector contractors have the opportunity to include an allowance for wage increases in their tender, which will only be successful if it shows the best value for money for the NHS.
	The exception is private finance initiative (PFI) contracts, where there is an annual adjustment to the service payment to allow for inflation, in accordance with HM Treasury policy. For cleaning and similar services in PFI, the adjustment reflects changes in employment costs rather than inflation.

Nurses: Foreigners

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of newly-registered nurses who came from non-EU countries in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register shows that between 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 there were 4,830 newly-registered nurses and midwives who came from non-European Union countries, out of a total of 27,702. This represents 17.4 per cent. of the total of newly-registered nurses and midwives in the year to 31 March 2007.
	
		
			  Country/area  Initial entrants 
			 England 17,270 
			 Scotland 2,497 
			 Wales 1,021 
			 Northern Ireland 600 
			 European Economic Area 1,484 
			 Overseas 4,830 
			 Total 27,702 
			  Source:  NMC Register

Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the Commission for Social Care Inspection assesses the extent to which care providers are offering effective nutritional care; what information the Commission for Social Care Inspection collects as part of its assessments of the extent to which care providers are offering effective nutritional care; and if he will place in the Library a copy of assessments made by the Commission for Social Care Inspection of the quality of nutritional care offered by care providers.

Ivan Lewis: Under the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and National Minimum Standards (NMS), homes are required to provide, in adequate quantities, suitable, wholesome and nutritious food, which is varied, appealing and properly prepared and available at such times as may reasonably be required by service users.
	Care homes are required to keep records, for inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), of the food provided for service users in sufficient detail to enable any person inspecting the record to determine whether the diet provided is satisfactorynutritionally and otherwiseand including any special diets prepared for individual service users.
	We have been informed by CSCI that, as part of the inspection of care providers, it surveys people using services, their relatives and visiting professionals. The survey form for care homes includes a section where respondents can record their comments on the food provided.
	When inspecting a service, CSCI will assess and score it against key NMS. These include NMS 8Healthcare, which requires that providers carry out nutritional screening of service users on admission and then on a periodic basis, and NMS 15Meals and Mealtimes, which requires a service to provide balanced, healthy and appetising meals for service users.
	In addition to scoring services against the NMS, CSCI would also require evidence of the quality of outcomes for people using the service. It can place statutory requirements on any service if it believes the wellbeing of people who use it may be at risk. The following table shows the percentages of services meeting or exceeding NMS 8 and 15 since 2002-03.
	
		
			  Care homes for younger adults 
			  Percentage 
			   NMS 8Healthcare  NMS 15Meals and mealtimes 
			 2002-03 86 81 
			 2003-04 89 86 
			 2004-05 89 88 
			 2005-06 88 90 
			 2006-07 88 90 
		
	
	
		
			  Care homes for older people 
			  Percentage 
			   NMS 8Healthcare  NMS 15Meals and mealtimes 
			 2002-03 73 78 
			 2003-04 78 82 
			 2004-05 78 84 
			 2005-06 78 85 
			 2006-07 79 86 
		
	
	CSCI issues a range of guidance to its inspectors in the form of 'Clinical Triggers'one of which is entitled The management of nutritional care for older people in care homeswhich provide information on best practice and the action which should be taken if this is not being followed. The 'Clinical Triggers' are available on the CSCI professionals' website at
	www.csci.org.uk/professional/default.aspx?page=7346key.
	Copies of The management of nutritional care for older people in care homes have been placed in the Library.
	CSCI requires all providers to confirm that they carry out nutritional screening for people at risk of malnutrition in its Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA). Where evidence raises concern about nutrition, CSCI will ensure that this is fully explored during the next inspection of the service. It will track, through the AQAA, the assessment of individual person-centred plans to establish that where required, nutritional screening has taken place.
	Copies of all inspection reports for individual services are available on the CSCI website at:
	www.csci.org.uk.
	CSCI has not carried out additional separate assessments of the quality of nutritional care.

Organs: Donors

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many brain stem dead organ donors the NHS has capacity to maintain on life support at any one time; and for how long such patients may be maintained.

Ann Keen: Organ donors confirmed dead by brain stem testing will have received treatment prior to their death in critical care facilities. Usually the retrieval of donated organs takes place within 12 hours of death. A Programme Delivery Board has been established chaired by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS Medical Director, to oversee delivery of the recommendations. This will include the need to work with commissioners and health providers to consider capacity and business needs in light of the recommendations and projected increase in organ donation.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is; and how services for PNH are currently commissioned and managed.

Dawn Primarolo: Standard treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) includes anti-coagulation, blood and platelet transfusions and in severe cases bone marrow transplant. Services are currently commissioned by primary care trusts from two specialist centres, based in Leeds and London.
	An application to commission the service on a national basis has been submitted by the two national centres and will be considered by the National Specialised Commissioning Group later this month. The application includes proposals to fund a newly licensed drug, which may be of benefit to some patients.

Perinatal Mortality

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) births,  (b) stillbirths and  (c) neonatal deaths there were in NHS operated units of each NHS Hospital Trust area in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Ann Keen: The Department is unable to provide the information requested. While the Office for National Statistics does collect information on births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths, it is not able to break those figures down by national health service hospital trust areas, or to determine which births took place in an NHS operated unit.

Ultra Orphan Therapies

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria have been established for funding ultra orphan therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: In December 2006, the Government re-issued Good Practice Guidance on Managing the Introduction of New Healthcare Interventions and links to NICE technology appraisal guidance to the local national health service, which states that funding for treatments should not be withheld simply because guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is unavailable but that decisions should be made on the basis of the available evidence. The guidance also suggests alternative sources of information for NHS organisations to consult in the absence of NICE guidance. Copies of the Guidance have already been placed in the Library.
	The draft NHS Constitution makes clear the patient's right to expect local decisions on funding for drugs for which NICE guidance is not available to be made rationally following proper consideration of the evidence. Where the local NHS decides not to fund a treatment, the patient and clinician can expect an explanation. To underpin this, the Government will require primary care trusts to put in place clear and transparent arrangements both for local decision-making on funding of new drugs and for considering exceptional funding requests, and to publish information on those arrangements.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has made no licensing applications. However, in 2006-07 and 2007-08, the office made three listed building consent applications in connection with Dover House, its headquarters in London; these were
	Improvement to the reception area
	closed circuit television
	fire protection improvement works to cupboards

Courts: Sight Impaired

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures are in place in  (a) magistrates' courts and  (b) the Crown Court to assist defendants who are either blind or partially sighed.

Maria Eagle: Her Majesty's Courts Service is committed to ensuring that the Crown court and magistrates courts meet the needs of blind and partially sighted defendants as required by the Disability Discrimination Act. This includes personal help for the individual through the provision of documents in Braille or large print, direct assistance from staff while in custody or on court premises, and more indirect help in catering for their needs through the design of court buildings. The Equal Treatment Bench Book provides guidance on safeguarding the interests of disabled people during the trial process.

Departmental Inquiries

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what independent inquiries have been commissioned by his Department in the last five years; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each such inquiry.

Jack Straw: In the last five years the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has commissioned five independent inquiries and sponsored the Hutton Inquiry.
	The creation of the MoJ in May 2007 transferred the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) from the Home Office to the MoJ. The Home Office commissioned five independent inquiries in relation to NOMS in the preceding five years. The former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) sponsored the Hutton Inquiry. Details as follows:
	 Inquiry into the death of  p olice  c onstable Gerald Walker
	The inquiry into the death of police constable Gerald Walker was published in March 2004. This inquiry, by HM Inspectorate of Probation, commissioned by the Home Secretary. The inquiry addressed events leading to the death of PC Gerald Walker, included consideration of policies and procedures relating to post release licences and related issues of criminal justice inter-agency working and communication. The inquiry cost 40,000. The steps taken following the inquiry included improvements to policeprobation practice and the introduction of a Joint National Protocol between police and the Probation Service.
	 Zahid Mubarek Inquiry
	The Zahid Mubarek inquiry was announced in April 2004, following the House of Lords ruling that an independent public investigation be held into the murder of Zahid Mubarek by his racist cellmate in Feltham Young Offender Institution in 2000. Mr. Justice Keith, chair of the inquiry, was tasked with looking into the events leading up to the murder and to make recommendations on the prevention of such attacks in the future. The report of the Zahid Mubarek inquiry was published in June 2006 and included 88 recommendations related to the prevention of any future deaths in circumstances similar to that of Mr. Mubarek. The Government welcomed the report and published an initial response. A full response to each recommendation was given within two months. Many of these reflected policies and procedures already put in place at HM Prison Service establishments. The inquiry cost 4.2 million.
	 Inquiry into the supervision of Peter Williams by Nottingham City Youth Offending Team
	The Inquiry into the supervision of Peter Williams by Nottingham City Youth Offending Team was published in September 2005 by HM Inspectorate of Probation. This inquiry was commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to inquire into the supervision of Peter Williams who had been convicted, in 2005, of murder while on licence. The inquiry also assessed the local area implementation of relevant policies, the governance of the local Youth Offending Team (YOT) and any wider issues. The inquiry cost 30,000. The steps taken following the inquiry required the YJB and the local YOT to take improvement action on enforcement, electronic monitoring, intensive supervision and training.
	 Independent  r eview of a  s erious  f urther  o ffence case of Damien Hanson and Elliot White
	An independent review of a serious further offence case of Damien Hanson and Elliot White was published in February 2006 by HM Inspectorate of Probation. The inquiry was commissioned by the Home Secretary to inquire into the decisions and management of London probation area relating to the sentences being served by Hanson and White at the time when they committed the offences. The offenders had been convicted of murder in 2005. The inquiry cost 40,000. The steps taken following the inquiry were that the Probation Circulars 49/05, 15/06 and 22/06 were issued requiring areas to undertake a comprehensive review of their risk assessment and management of offenders, and to take improvement actions including training.
	 The Case of Approved Premises in Avon and Somerset
	The case of approved premises in Avon and Somerset. This inquiry was published in March 2007 by HM Inspectorate of Probation. The inquiry was commissioned by the Home Secretary to investigate allegations made by the BBC Panorama programme and to make any recommendations necessary to improve the management of dangerous offenders. The inquiry cost 100,000. The steps taken following the review were that the probation area and the approved premises were required to address recommendations regarding resourcing, training, drug testing, and liaison with police.
	Costs to HMI Probation were met from within their allocated budget. The cost figures aforementioned are derived using an approach, which absorbs all the support administration and related additional costs of each piece of work into an average cost per hour. This provides cost figures as a 'calculated proportion of the allocated budget'.
	 The Hutton Inquiry
	The Hutton inquiry was commissioned on 18 July 2003, and sponsored by the then Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, Lord Falconer of Thoroton. Its terms of reference were
	...urgently to conduct an investigation into the circumstance surrounding the death of Dr. Kelly.
	Lord Hutton completed his report in January 2004. The costs incurred by the inquiry itself were 1.68 million for the financial year 2003-04. These were the costs to the then, Department for Constitutional Affairs, as the sponsor Department for the inquiry. The Government accepted Lord Hutton's report in full.

Domestic Violence: Prisoners Release

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many men convicted of domestic violence offences have been released under the End of Custody Licence scheme; what risk assessment or accommodation check was carried out in each case; what records he holds on whether any such offenders have re-offended; whether any such offenders have been recalled to prison; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Domestic violence is not a specific offence. Offenders who commit domestic violence are charged with a generic offence of assault. It would not be possible to identify the number of prisoners convicted of domestic violence related offences without examining individual case files which would incur disproportionate cost. Similarly, it is also not possible to identify prisoners convicted of domestic violence related offences who have gone on to reoffend or who have been recalled to custody.
	Prisoners released under the ECL scheme are not subject to individualised risk assessment; the assessment of eligibility is against the criteria of the scheme. Prisoners serving a sentence for a serious violent offence are excluded from ECL. All prisoners released on ECL would have been released at their statutory release date a maximum of 18 days later. It is for this reason that ECL operates according to precise fixed criteria. All release arrangements that would otherwise have taken place 18 days later are brought forward to the ECL release date and any licence conditions that would apply at the statutory release date are included on the ECL licence.
	Prisons are instructed that they should take appropriate action in response to any information they have received that a prisoner poses a risk of domestic violence or to a specific victim on release. That information should be provided to the police and, where appropriate, submitted to the Multi Agency Pubic Protection Panel, in line with routine risk management arrangements. In such cases, release on ECL should not take place until measures to address the risk have been put in place.
	The full policy on ECL is set out in Prison Service Instruction 42/2007. This may be found on the Prison Service's website:
	http://psi.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/PSI_2007_42_end_of_ custody_licence.doc

European Convention on Human Rights

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the United Kingdom to accede to Protocol 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Michael Wills: The United Kingdom will be in a position to accede to the Seventh Protocol when legislation to abolish or equalise three rules of matrimonial property law has been passed. We are seeking a suitable legislative vehicle in which to do so.

Information Commissioner: Public Relations

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many press, marketing and communications staff are employed by the Information Commissioner's office.

Michael Wills: The Information Commissioner's Office is an independent body created by statute. Its responsibilities include handling complaints made under the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
	The ICO has a Communication Team of 11 people who deal with online media, internal communications, market research, marketing, media strategy, publications and public affairs.
	The ICO also uses a public relations agency to provide a press office. A recent re-tendering exercise found that the estimated costs for setting up an in-house press office were higher than employing a public relations agency to do this work.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's copy of the minutes of the Inter-Party Talks on party funding of 31 October 2007.

Bridget Prentice: As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) in the debate on the publication of the White Paper on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 695, release of these papers is a matter for Sir Hayden Phillips.

Prisoners Release

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people convicted of  (a) robbery and  (b) actual bodily harm have been released on end of custody licence;
	(2)  how many people have been released on end of custody licence who had previously been refused a home detention curfew;
	(3)  how many people have been released on end of custody licence since 27 June 2007.

Jack Straw: The available information on numbers released by offence is published monthly, in the statistical bulletin End of Custody Licence releases and recalls, available from the library of the House and the Ministry of Justice website at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustody licence.htm
	The following table shows the available information on numbers of prisoners by offence group who were released under the end of custody licence (ECL) scheme from 29 June 2007 to 31 May 2008:
	
		
			  Offence group  Releases 
			 Violence against the person(1) 5,468 
			 Sexual 8 
			 Robbery 668 
			 Burglary 2,609 
			 Theft and Handling 6,563 
			 Fraud and Forgery 551 
			 Drug offences 1,218 
			 Motoring offences 3,529 
			 Other offences 7,778 
			 Offence not recorded 487 
			 Total 28,879 
			 (1 )Prisoners convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (Offences Against the Person Act 1861 s.47) are not excluded from release on ECL. It would not be possible to identify the number of prisoners convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm without examining individual case files which would incur disproportionate cost. These offences are included in the category 'violence against the person'. 
		
	
	Prisoners serving sentences for the most serious violent offences and registered sex offenders are excluded from ECL. A complete list of exclusions is contained within PSI 42/2007. This may be found on the Prison Service website at the following address:
	http://psi.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/PSI_2007_42_end_of_custody_ licence.doc
	Of the 28,879 prisoners released under End of Custody Licence between 29 June 2007 and 31 May 2008, the latest date for which this figure is available, around 5,300 had previously been refused release on home detention curfew.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Open University

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what facilities are available to prisoners to take Open University courses; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department makes financial provision available to prisoners to study Open University courses, where they do not have sufficient funds of their own and works in collaboration with the Open University and the Prison Service. My Department funds an Openings Course, and/or a first course for a prisoner accepted onto a programme of study leading to an undergraduate qualification, as well as meeting the ongoing additional tutorial costs the Open University incurs.
	In addition to this financial contribution, the prison gives support through the Head of Learning and Skills to prisoners during their study, and the final decision about whether a prisoner is suitable to take a particular course rests with the Prison Governor in the light of security and public protection considerations. The LSC contracts with Offender Learning and Skills Service providers requires them to provide practical support and guidance, other than tuition, to prisoners studying for Open University courses.

Prisoners: Suicide

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people from  (a) Tamworth and  (b) Staffordshire committed suicide while in prison and (i) on and (ii) not on suicide watch in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many ex-offenders committed suicide within a fortnight of leaving prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many women aged 30 to 50 years committed suicide in prison while  (a) on and  (b) not on suicide watch in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The home address of those who die in prison custody is not recorded centrally. To verify home address information (which in some cases would be 'no fixed abode') would involve contacting each individual prison and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information about suicides amongst people released from prison is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Any prisoner identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm will be cared for using the ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) procedures. ACCT is the prisoner-centred flexible care-planning system introduced across the prisons estate in partnership with the Department of Health during 2005-07 to replace the old F2052SH system. The term 'suicide watch' is not employed in National Offender Management Service (NOMS) prison suicide prevention policies, as it has been found to be unhelpful in that it could imply a lack of staff interaction with at-risk prisoners.
	All at-risk prisoners are subject to a minimum required frequency of staff supervision (conversations and observations) set by an individual case review. Such frequency can vary widely between different at-risk prisoners depending on the level of risk and the needs of the distressed individual.
	The following table provides a response based on whether or not an ACCT Plan or F2052SH at-risk care plan was open at the time of death.
	
		
			   Identified at-risk at time of death  Number of self-inflicted deaths( 1)  of women aged 30 to 50 
			 1998 Yes 2 
			  No 0 
			 1999 Yes 1 
			  No 1 
			 2000 Yes 0 
			  No 1 
			 2001 Yes 1 
			  No 1 
			 2002 Yes 1 
			  No 2 
			 2003 Yes 1 
			  No 3 
			 2004 Yes 1 
			  No 5 
			 2005 Yes 1 
			  No 1 
			 2006 Yes 1 
			  No 0 
			 2007 Yes 2 
			  No 2 
			 (1) NOMS definition of prisoner self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available.

Prospects Project: Exeter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were admitted to the Prospects Project in each year between December 2005 and February 2008.

David Hanson: The number of people admitted to the Prospects Project in each year between December 2005 and February 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			  Exeter 
			   Admissions 
			 January (when the first residents were admitted)-December 2006 37 
			 January-December 2007 82 
			 January-February 2008 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Preston 
			   Residents 
			 2006 27 
			 2007 40 
			 January-February 2008 6 
		
	
	 Merseyside
	No residents were admitted as the Prospects project at Merseyside as the project did not become operational before the Prospects programme was closed.
	
		
			  Bristol 
			   Residents 
			  Male  
			 December 2005 4 
			 2006 40 
			 2007 68 
			 January-February 2008 18 
			   
			  Female  
			 2006 (1)0 
			 2007 12 
			 January-February 2008 4 
			 (1) Site not operational

Prospects Project: Exeter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff were employed at the Prospects Project in Exeter; and what their duties were.

David Hanson: The Prospects project at Exeter employed a manager and deputy manager, six full-time assistant managers and four full-time night managers. There was an additional (equivalent) 1.5 staff which provided project resource and administrative support. The manager had overall responsibility for service delivery and management of staff groups, the deputy manager oversaw day to day regime delivery and provide offender management expertise regarding risk assessment and sentence planning; assistant managers would deliver the Prospects regime and deliver the overall sentence plan within the residential unit and in the community; night managers provided supervision and security cover throughout the night. Exeter drugs partnership were also commissioned to provide specialist drugs workers to deliver a drug abstinence regime as well as individual counselling.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many domestic air flights were undertaken within mainland Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Gareth Thomas: In 2007-08 the number of domestic flights and costs for such flights was:
	(a) Number of flights: 2,691;
	(b) Cost of flights: 562,491.
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Gareth Thomas: I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to you directly.
	Information requested for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and to obtain such information would lead to disproportionate costs.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Gareth Thomas: Within the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform the costs of all publication-related expenditure is captured against one account code. The cost of identifying subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications would therefore be above the disproportionate cost threshold (700). I can confirm that all such expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Gareth Thomas: BERR encourages secondment as an effective method of developing individuals and sharing knowledge and experience with other organisations. A secondee to the Department is a person who works in BERR for an agreed temporary period with the intention of returning to their employer at the end. A secondment in the Department does not affect the employment status of a secondee.
	Selection of a secondee into the Department is based on merit. In all cases a secondee will be the person most capable of effectively undertaking the duties of the position they have been recruited for. When there is competition for a role, the most capable person is selected in line with good practice in recruitment and selection.
	BERR is an equal opportunity employer and all secondees are subject to the Department's Equal Opportunities Policies. Secondees will have access to an e-learning Diversity Awareness Training which becomes available to all BERR staff summer this year. This follows the Diversity Awareness Training for key leaders which was delivered the end of 2007 to senior civil servants and some middle managers in the Department.

Departmental Standards

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 18-20W, on departmental standards, what the scope was of the Gateway Review undertaken in 2007-08 on his Department's project  (a) HECToR,  (b) Sellafield PBO Competition and  (c) Magnox South Competition.

Gareth Thomas: OGC (Office of Government Commerce) Gateway Reviews are conducted using a methodology developed by OGC. There are five Gateway Reviews (1-5) during the lifecycle of a project, three before contract award and two looking at service implementation and confirmation of the operational benefits. Programmes are subject to a Gate 0 Review. Gateway reports are conducted on a confidential basis for the programme or project's Senior Responsible Owner (SRO).
	The 2007-08 HECToR Gateway Review was conducted at Gate 4Readiness for Service. Gateway 4 checks that the organisation is ready to make the transition to implementation and that ownership and governance are in place for operation. As a result of the machinery of government changes in 2007-08, the HECToR project now no longer comes under the remit of BERR. Instead it is overseen by DIUS. The 2007-08 Reviews of the Sellafield PBO Competition and Magnox South Competition projects were conducted at Gateway 2Delivery Strategy. Gateway 2 provides assurance that the acquisition and delivery strategy are appropriate for the desired business change and that implementation plans are in place.

Electricity Generation: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the resilience of electricity substations to flooding.

Malcolm Wicks: The Energy Minister initiated a review into the resilience of electricity substations to flooding following the floods of summer 2007. The review was carried out under the framework of the Energy Emergencies Executive, a joint BERR/Ofgem/industry body, and led by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) with support from BERR, Ofgem, electricity network owners and the Environment Agency. The first phase of this work, completed in March 2008, established a framework for the assessment of flood risk, societal impact of a loss of electricity supplies during a flood incident and options for protecting electricity substations from flooding.
	The review has now commenced work on the second phase, which includes application of the framework on a site by site basis to all the major electricity substations identified as being located in a flood plain. This work is due to be completed by the end of December 2008.

Grants: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grants were made by his Department and its predecessor to the London borough of Bexley in each year since 1997; and for how much in each case.

Gareth Thomas: In April 2007 the Department paid the London borough of Bexley a resource (revenue) grant of 163,600 under Section 31 of the Local Government Finance Act 2003. This payment was in respect of the costs of treating and disposing of household hazardous waste electrical and electronic equipment during the period 1 June 2006 to 30 June 2007.
	Grants were also paid between 2005-06 and 2007-08 in respect of project management and development of the Retail Enforcement Pilot. The amounts were: 28,700 in 2005-06; 146,700 in 2006-07, and 72,900 in 2007-08.
	The Department, under its current responsibilities following Machinery of Government Changes last year, has not made available any other direct funding to the London borough of Bexley since 1998. Financial records are retained for 10 years, therefore no data is available for the 1997-98 financial year.
	This excludes any payments that may have been made direct to the London borough of Bexley by any of BERRs sponsored agencies, NDPBs or other public bodies, specific data for which could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for what reasons former miners and their families in Scotland are entitled to claim damages under the miners compensation scheme from an earlier period than their counterparts in England and Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The reason why former miners and their families in Scotland are entitled to claim damages under the coal health compensation schemes earlier than England and Wales is because the Limitation Act does not apply in Scotland and therefore no limitation date was established. The date of guilty knowledge in England and Wales were set by the High Court.
	In order to get the Scottish solicitors to sign up to a claims handling agreement, which in the most part would mirror the agreement in England and Wales, the Department reached a number of compromises with the Scottish solicitors. On the Department's part we agreed to pay bereavement awards to all widows who fulfilled the criteria set in England and Wales (under Scottish law they would not all have received this); and for their part the Scottish solicitors agreed to impose a limitation date of 1949 (rather than it being open-ended).

National Emergency Plan for Fuel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether discussions took place in his Department over whether to activate the National Emergency Plan for Fuel during the recent strike by tanker drivers.

Malcolm Wicks: The National Emergency Plan for Fuel (NEP-F) identifies how the resources of the downstream oil industry and the Government can be utilised to manage any significant disruption to oil supplies in the UK market. It enables the Government to select and use one or more appropriate emergency response tools to manage any significant disruption. During the recent strike by tanker drivers working for Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, a Joint Response Team (JRT) was set up in my Department, demand calming measures were encouraged, and the Memorandum of Understanding with industry was activated to provide a jointly managed approach to maintaining the continuity of fuel supply. The need to use other emergency response tools within the NEP- F was kept under regular review.

Nuclear Power Stations: Dounreay

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost to the public purse has been of maintaining the Dounreay nuclear facility over the last 30 years; under what budget headings such expenditure has been incurred; and what financial provision has been made for decommissioning the nuclear facility over that period.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 30 June 2008
	Since 2000, the actual cost of maintaining Dounreay has been as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2000-01 128.2 
			 2001-02 139.4 
			 2002-03 149.6 
			 2003-04 137.7 
			 2004-05 159.3 
			 2005-06 146.5 
			 2006-07 146.8 
			 2007-08 137.5 
		
	
	These numbers are gross costs and do not include any income generated by the site.
	Prior to 2000 UKAEA did not record costs on a site basis and there are, therefore, no detailed figures on the historical cost of Dounreay.
	The main budget headings which Dounreay has used since 2003 are those defined by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and the Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) prior to that:
	New Construction Projects;
	Decommissioning and Termination;
	Waste and Nuclear Material Management;
	Site Support;
	Support Services (those services required, but not necessarily based on the site);
	Stakeholder Support (such as communications).
	Prior to 2003, the costs would have been separated on a similar basis, but with different titles. For example, Decommissioning and Waste Management were joined together. These definitions would have changed on a yearly basis.
	Since the creation of the NDA, the financial provision for decommissioning the Dounreay site has been set out in the NDA's annual plans and annual report and accounts, available on their website at
	www.nda.gov.uk.

Oil

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent estimate his Department has made of the  (a) UK and  (b) global demand and supply of oil; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The provisional figures for 2007 published by BERR indicate that UK production of crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) was 1.66 million barrels per day and UK demand for oil products was 1.68 million barrels per day.
	The latest Monthly Oil Market Report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates 2007 world crude oil supply, including NGLs, at 85.5 million barrels per day and world oil demand at 86 million barrels per day.

Oil

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent  (a) cross-departmental and  (b) international discussions his Department has had on the global production and supply of oil; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: BERR works very closely on a daily basis with other Government Departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Treasury, Department for International Development and Department for Transport on issues relating to global oil markets.
	BERR is very active in engaging our international partners on how to encourage further oil production and supply in the short and longer term. To this effect, I visited Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi last month to discuss these issues bilaterally. BERR has also had multilateral engagement on this issue through the Secretary of State's attendance at the G8 Energy Minister's meeting on 8 June and at the Oil summit convened in Jeddah by Saudi Arabia on the 22 June.

Overseas Trade: Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations the Government has made to British companies operating in Burma to persuade them to withdraw from the country.

Gareth Thomas: We are unaware of any major UK-based company operating there. The Government were instrumental in persuading the last two major UK investorsBAT and Premier Oilto withdraw from the country. Current trade levels are very low.
	The UK Government discourage trade and investment with Burma. We offer no commercial services or support to UK companies wishing to trade with or invest in Burma. British companies who inquire about trade with Burma are informed of the grave political situation, the regime's record on human rights and the country's dire economic prospects.

Post Offices: Closures

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the financial viability and sustainability of Post Office outreach services;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the sustainability of the Post Office Partner Outreach business model.

Patrick McFadden: The Government consider that decisions about the provision of post office services including any outreach services are a matter for Post Office Ltd. and individual sub-postmasters, reflecting the needs and level of demand in local communities. We do not believe it is appropriate for Government to seek to intervene in matters which are best considered at local level.
	However, we want Post Office Ltd. actively to engage with local communities, through a process of local consultation ahead of establishing outreach services, so that they can be tailored to individual circumstances and stand the best chance of acceptance and success.

Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what grants were made by his Department and its predecessor to  (a) Tamworth Borough Council and  (b) Staffordshire County Council in each year since 1997; and for how much in each case.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department has no record of any payments to Tamworth borough council;
	 (b) Grants totalling 877,746.29 were paid to Staffordshire county council, from financial year 2002-03 onwards. Details by year are in the following table. Information prior to this is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2002-03 44,274.48 
			 2003-04 69,258.46 
			 2004-05 67,961.00 
			 2005-06 25,000.00 
			 2006-07 79,000.00 
			 2007-08 592,252.35

UK Trade and Investment

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what UK Trade and Investment's target for strategic interventions was for 2007; and how many were achieved.

Gareth Thomas: At the start of FY 2007-08, UK Trade and Investment introduced new top-level annual targets covering high value foreign direct investment successes; helping businesses to exploit overseas business opportunities; and increasing the quantity of R and D in the UK through business internationalisation.
	Figures for the year up to Q3 FY 2007-08 confirm:
	Against a target to improve the performance of at least 20,000 UK businesses, of which, at least 12,000 should be innovative; UKTI assisted 15,900, of which, 12,600 were innovative; and
	Against a target to increase the quantity of R and D activity in the UK so at least 1,000 businesses increase their R and D activity in the UK as a result of UKTI support; UKTI helped 2,799 UK businesses to increase R and D activity.
	Latest figures for inward investment (published 3 July) show that, against an annual target to achieve at least 525 involved inward investment project successes, of which, at least 125 should be high value; UKTI exceeded its target with 549 projects, of which, 182 were high value.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Gareth Thomas: The Department's policy is that all timber and timber products are procured specifying the point of origin and must be from a sustainable source and certified as Forestry Stewardship Certificate (FSC) or similar.
	On quantity and value, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 2 July 2008,  Official  Report, column 950W.

China: Overseas Aid

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to cease funding for work in China after 2011; what assessment he has made of the need for development funding in China after the Sichuan earthquake; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Development programme with China consists of two elements. Firstly, work in China to help China achieve the Millennium Development Goals in basic education, water supply and sanitation and combating HIV and AIDS and TB. Secondly, work with China to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals globally by sharing experience and lesson learning with respect to China's engagement in Africa and with its near neighbours; and on climate change, sustainable development and learning from China's experience on poverty reduction. The bilateral programme to China is expected to end in March 2011. We expect engagement with China on international development issues to continue beyond March 2011, but the modalities for this still need to be considered.
	The UK has provided funds for the immediate relief effort in response to the earthquake in Sichuan. On 16 May, three days after the earthquake struck, we provided 1 million to the Chinese Association for NGO co-operation. The money was used to buy food, water, blankets and 2,400 tents. Between 22 and 30 May, four flights arrived in Chengdu from Dubai carrying a further 5,332 tents. The total value of the tents, including transport costs, was 1.2 million. On 18 June, we agreed a contribution of 350,000 to the International Labour Organisation for training to help survivors of the earthquake re-launch or start their own businesses for the first time. The programme aims to re-establish 1,000 businesses and start 700 new ones in the next year. The DFID total contribution to date is therefore 2.55 million.
	We are currently considering establishing a facility to provide technical assistance for the reconstruction effort. It will have an initial ceiling of 1 million. The main focus of the expertise will be on areas where we already have a comparative advantage, such as health, education, water and sanitation, participatory, socially inclusive planning and community based poverty reduction in remote villages. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-July.

Egypt: Terrorism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens, broken down by  (a) sex and  (b) age were (i) injured and (ii) killed in Egypt as a result of terrorist activity in each of the last 10 years; what discussions he has had with the government of Egypt about improving security in Egypt for British tourists during the last 12 months; what response was received; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We express our sincere condolences to the families of the British citizens killed in Egypt and other countries due to terrorist activity. We regret that in 2004, a man and a womanages unknownwere injured as a result of terrorist activity. In 2005, six menages 14, 16, 17, 17, 28, 30and five womenages 16, 31, 43, 50, 70were killed as a result of terrorist activity, and one man aged 22 and one woman, whose age is unknown, were injured. In 2006, three menages 24, 31 and 42were injured as a result of terrorist activity. Between 1998 and 2003, and in 2007, there were no British nationals injured or killed as a result of terrorist activity in Egypt.
	Our embassy in Cairo regularly discusses the safety and security of British nationals with the Egyptian authorities, including at ministerial level. We have worked together to provide training for those involved in protecting tourists and intend to continue to do so.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 329W, on Eritrea: Ethiopia, to the right hon. Member for Richmond, what representations the Government have made to Ethiopia and Eritrea to agree to re-activate the work of the Military Co-ordination Commission; and if he will make a statement .

Meg Munn: The Military Co-ordination Commission (MCC) last met on 31 July 2006.
	The meetings of the MCC ceased when the Government of Ethiopia said they would only participate if Eritrea withdrew its military forces from the Temporary Security Zone. The Government of Eritrea said they would continue with the MCC meetings once Ethiopia agreed to participate.
	As a bilateral mechanism, established under the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, 18 June 2000, between Ethiopia and Eritrea, they both bear the responsibility to re-activate the work of the MCC. The Government are prepared to support any initiative which will assist the parties in doing this and resolving then-border dispute peacefully.
	I also refer the hon. member to the answer I gave on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 369W, which sets out the Government's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the British Embassy in Tel Aviv not to entertain leaders of settler communities in the West Bank at public expense.

Kim Howells: holding answer 26 June 2008
	The Government's view on settlements is clear: all settlements are illegal under international law. Reports of recent settlement expansion are at odds with Israel's roadmap commitmentswhich call for a freeze on all settlement constructionand threaten negotiations on a two-state solution. As I made clear in an answer to the House on 24 June, the presence of settlers at the recent party at our embassy in Tel Avivcelebrating Her Majesty The Queen's birthdaydid not send out helpful signals in our efforts to hold Israel to its roadmap commitments on settlements.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), whether the human rights record of Israel in the occupied territories was considered in the discussions on the EU-Israel Association Council in the margins of the GAERC.

Kim Howells: There were no discussions on the human rights record of Israel in the Occupied Territories during the EU-Israel Association Council.

Pakistan: Terrorism

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the Pakistani authorities of the presence of British converts to Islam in areas of Peshawar province associated with militancy.

Kim Howells: The threat from violent extremism in the north-west frontier province of Pakistan has grown, despite more than 800 members of the Pakistani security forces having lost their lives in the struggle to maintain security. We are committed to helping the government of Pakistan tackle this threat and have deepened our counter-terrorism co-operation accordingly.
	We would not be able to comment on any personal information received about British nationals in Peshawar in accordance with our data protection obligations. We do, however, maintain close co-operation with the Pakistani authorities concerning the threat from violent extremism.

Palestinians: Overseas Students

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Palestinian students with places to study in the UK who have been unable to obtain permission to leave Gaza in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We are aware of nine students who have won places in British universities but can not leave Gaza due to exit permit problems. The Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Sir Peter Ricketts, raised this issue with the Israeli ambassador on 20 June and my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Howells) raised it with Israeli Diaspora Minister Isaac Herzog recently. As this issue also affects a number of other EU member states, we have also made representations jointly to the Israeli authorities through the European Commission.

Palestinians: Police

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UK is a strong support of the EU's civil police training mission. The UK has provided 1.2 million for civil police development this year. With our support, the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories has refurbished Jericho police training centre; completed two women's police courses; begun to roll out public order training to 800 police; and delivered non-lethal equipment such as helmets. The UK is engaged in supporting the development of Palestinian security. At the Berlin conference on 24 June, the UK committed 2.7 million in 2008 and 4.5 million over the next three years to help these efforts.

South Africa: Crimes of Violence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African government on instances of violence against foreigners in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government, through our high commission in Pretoria, have shared our concerns about this violence with the South African authorities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development condemned the violence on 5 June in a speech in South Africa during which he announced 500,000 funding for assistance to migrants in temporary shelters affected by the recent violence.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the government of Sudan's compliance with the Status of Forces Agreement for the UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We understand that the Government of Sudan have largely complied with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the UN, the African Union (AU) and the Government of Sudan on 9 February, which provides a legal framework for the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). However, UNAMID officials have raised concerns about intermittent restrictions on UNAMID's freedom of movement imposed by the Government of Sudan on security grounds and about local Government of Sudan officials failing to comply with SOFA provisions. In ministerial and official contacts with the Government of Sudan, we have pressed them to cooperate with UNAMID, including through full compliance with the SOFA.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to ensure that the government of Sudan complies with the provisions of the Abyei Protocol.

Meg Munn: The two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, signed a Road Map for the Return of internally displaced persons and Implementation of Abyei Protocol on 8 June. We are providing advice on arbitration and stand ready to provide further support to both parties to implement the roadmap.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government supports proposals for a permanent UN military and civilian presence in the Abyei region of Sudan.

Meg Munn: The remit of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the UN agencies in Abyei covers military and security issues, for example support to the new Joint Integrated Unit, and civilian affairs such as reconstruction and development.
	The National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Army agreed a roadmap on 8 June to resolve their differences over Abyei. The UK is working closely with the UN and other partners to support the parties in successfully implementing the road map. We secured a strengthened mandate for UNMIS in UN Security Council Resolution 1812, which calls on the parties to allow UNMIS unrestricted access and operations in Abyei.
	We will support the UN presence in Abyei as long as they are mandated to operate there and have the support of the parties.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost;
	(2)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) requires its staff and contractors to procure timber from legal or sustainable sources in line with the requirements of Government timber procurement policy. From April 2009, in line with Government policy, the FCO will only procure timber which is legal and sustainable or timber licensed under the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade initiative, for use on its estate in the UK or in those European locations covered by a facilities management contract expected to come into effect in December. In all other countries the FCO will continue to source timber from legal and, where possible, sustainable sources.
	I regret that it is not possible to supply information on the amount and cost of timber and timber products incurred in each of the last five years without incurring disproportionate cost.

Building Disaster Group

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Building Disaster Group; what reports the group has produced in the last 12 months; what projects it has managed in that time; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: No formal assessment of the effectiveness of the BDAG (BDAG) has been carried out by the Department. The work of the group, has, however, been instrumental in bringing about revisions to Building Regulations Approved Document B, several British Standards, and Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) operational procedures and guidance. Work continues to inform a number of British Standards Reviews and amendments to FRS Generic Risk Assessments and operational practice and guidance.
	The work also informed the evaluation procedures used by the Integrated Clothing Project Garment Trials Working Group. Beyond the FRS the work of the group was, and continues to be, used to inform other emergency service responders' equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and operational practice decisions. The BDAG work has also been used in setting up Home Office funded research programmes evaluating improved monitoring and cooling equipment for all emergency service responders. Using BDAG as a starting point at least one FRS has engaged with university researchers to carry out a programme to identify cooling and post-incident recovery best practice for FRS personnel.
	Within the last 12 months three reports have been finalised which are in process of being published on the Department website. These reports cover two further studies on the physiological impact on firefighters of operational activities and a review of the incident ground communication provision of fire and rescue services. Draft reports have been received on the modelling of fires in under-ventilated compartments and it is intended that these reports be consolidated and published on the Department website once finalised. A further internal report has been prepared into an assessment of alternative methods of advancing hose from a bridgehead during high rise firefighting. This report has been used to inform preparation of a revision to the generic risk assessment for high rise firefighting.
	The group continues to manage several projects:
	FR11.24 a review of the provision of firefighting shafts using FRD1 data;
	FR11.25 the interaction between security measures, fire safety strategies and fire service intervention;
	FR23.25 firefighting in under-ventilated compartments;
	FR23.28 revised guidance on high rise firefighting;
	FR31.07 fire service communication needs within the built environment;
	FR35.19 development of physiological performance criteria for firefighting;
	FR35.21 the provision of human factors expertise.

Catering: Planning Permission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) her Department and  (b) the Planning Inspectorate has provided to local planning authorities on whether catering outlets can open in former retail premises without obtaining a change in use classification.

Iain Wright: Neither the Department nor the Planning Inspectorate has issued any specific guidance on this matter. However, local planning authorities can refer to ODPM Circular 03/2005Changes of Use of Buildings and Land for guidance in relation to the interpretation of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1995, as amended.
	In general, sandwich bars would be able to open in retail premises without the need for planning permission as both of these uses fall within Class Al: Shops of the Use Classes Order. Most other types of catering outlets, such as cafes, restaurants and hot food take-away premises fall into different use classes, and are likely to require planning permission to open in premises which have been in Class Al use.
	It is for local planning authorities to determine in the first instance whether a material change of use has occurred or would occur, and also whether planning permission is required. These decisions need to be made on a case by case basis taking into account individual circumstances.

Community Development

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the Risk Management Toolkit for Asset Transfer referred to on page 49 of the report entitled, The Government's Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, published in February 2008.

Parmjit Dhanda: One of the recommendations of the Quirk Review was the publication of a risk management toolkit for asset transfer, in order to advise local authorities on how to identify and manage the risks that are involved in asset transfer. The toolkit, Managing risks in asset transfer: a guide will be published before the summer recess.

Council Tax: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) her Department has made of the number of dwellings in (i) England and (ii) Wales which are over-valued for council tax banding purposes.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 964W, which outlined the position in England. Council tax in Wales is a devolved matter.

Eco-towns

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 983W, on eco-towns, whether the Homes and Communities Agency will act as a local planning authority for any of the eco-town developments as part of its leadership role.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1201W. We would expect all applications for eco-towns to be considered as a normal planning application by the appropriate local planning authority unless called in by the Secretary of State.
	We see the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) being able to take a leadership role in helping to deliver some of the eco-towns and playing a major role in supporting local authorities, and working with bidders to review and refine detailed proposals as they are developed. However, it is not envisaged that the HCA's leadership role will include acting as a local planning authority for any of the eco-town developments and there are currently no plans to designate any area and confer any planning functions upon the HCA.

Eco-towns: Public Participation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's YouGov Poll on eco-towns, how many people were questioned; how those questioned were selected; where those questioned lived; what questions they were asked; and from which socio-economic groups they were drawn.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 3 July 2008
	 With reference to the Department's recent YouGov poll on eco-towns, I can confirm:
	1. The poll is based on a sample of 1,693 respondents
	2. Respondents volunteered to answer a range of questions, including those about eco-towns, through the YouGov online panel
	3. The respondent sample was created to be broadly representative of geographic communities across England
	4. Respondents were asked the following questions:
	Q1. Which of the following terms/expressions have you seen or heard of?carbon footprint, biodegradable, affordable housing, sustainable development, Eco-towns, zero-carbon, Act On CO2
	Q2. How much do you know about eco-towns?
	Q3. To what extent do you support the development of eco-towns in England? To what extent do you support the development an eco-town within five miles of your home?
	Q4. If you were to consider moving home, to what extent would the energy efficiency and the environmental impact of properties influence your decision?
	Q5. And to what extent do you feel there is affordable housing within five miles of your home (e.g. affordable housing for first-time buyers, families and the retired, including social housing and private housing etc)?
	5. The respondent sample was created to be broadly representative of socio-economic groups across England.

European Charter of Local Self-Government

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in discussions on a European charter for regional self-government.

John Healey: The Council of Europe's (CoE) Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional government, at its 2005 Budapest meeting, recognised that the then proposed Charter for Regional Self-Government did not have the degree of political support necessary for adoption.
	I am aware that CoE's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its May 2008 meeting recommended a draft Charter of Regional Democracy to the CoE's Committee of Ministers who are now considering their response. The United Kingdom Government does not support such a charter, nor does it believe it would be right to recognise in an international legally binding convention.

Fire Services: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 541-42W, on fire services, whether fire and rescue authorities will be liable for cost over-runs arising after the cut-over to the regional fire control centres.

Parmjit Dhanda: Government are committed to meeting the costs incurred by the Fire Service in making preparations for cut-over to FiReControl. It has also undertaken to put in place arrangements to ensure that no region will incur costs over and above those of running the existing control rooms once the Fire Control network goes live. Details of the arrangements are set out in the Communities and Local Government Business Case Part 1 that I have placed in the House library which includes a regional case for each region.
	A copy of the full Business Case will be placed in the Library later this summer.

Flood Control

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether large-scale flood plain management projects will be dealt with by the Infrastructure Planning Commission, with particular reference to projects proposed in the Llandrinio area of the Marches.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to my response to him during 3rd Reading on the Planning Bill on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 453. Flood plain management projects will not be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects of the downturn in the housing market on demand for each of the three Homebuy products.

Caroline Flint: In the current market conditions it remains very difficult for first time buyers to afford to purchase a property on the open market, and the role of Government schemes in helping people get a foot on the property ladder is more relevant than ever.
	The Government's Low Cost Home Ownership scheme 'HomeBuy' which is based on equity sharing has helped some 35,000 people over the two years 2006-08. The range of products available under the scheme have helped to make home ownership affordable to first time buyers, and enabled purchasers to get a foot on the property ladder.
	From 1 April 2008 we have made two new equity loan products available under the Open Market HomeBuy scheme. They offer first time buyers an affordable entry point into home ownership. Indications are that interest in these products remains high, as over 7,000 applications have been received for the new shared equity loan products since their launch.
	In addition, the Housing Corporation continues to encourage RSLs to bid for New Build HomeBuy schemes in order to offer purchasers the opportunity to enter into home ownership with shares from as little as 25 per cent.
	We continue to keep the HomeBuy products and their delivery under careful review to ensure that they offer value for money and are suitable for purchasers in the current market.

Local Government Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what ways local authorities are compensated for an increased population due to inward migration.

Parmjit Dhanda: The distribution of formula grant to local authorities takes into account measures of population, as well as other socio-economic factors. These measures of population take account of both inward and outward migration.
	In some areas the rate and scale of change will have an impact on local communities and services. My Department has recently published Managing the Impacts of Migration: A Cross Government Approach which sets out the Government's support for local authorities and their partners. This includes introducing a new Transitional Impacts of Migration Fund to build capacity in local service providers and support innovative projects from 2009-10. My Department is also providing 50 million over the next three years to support community cohesion including tackling particular areas of tension, providing positive activities for young people, and supporting local cohesion projects.

Planning

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether planning aid is available only to  (a) groups and  (b) individuals.

Iain Wright: Planning Aid provides free, independent planning advice to individuals and community groups including small charities, voluntary groups and tenants' organisations.
	Planning Aid also assists social enterprises and other not-for-profit businesses, but does not normally provide planning advice to businesses which seek to make a profit.

Poverty

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have a public service agreement stretch target relating to  (a) fuel poverty,  (b) pensioner poverty and  (c) child poverty; and what the terms of the stretch target is in each case.

John Healey: Local authorities agreed stretch targets as part of stand alone local public service agreements (LPSA) and the first three rounds of local area agreements (LAA).
	The text of all LPSAs are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/performanceframeworkpartnerships/localareaagreements/localpublicservice/secondgeneration/finalagreements/
	The text of the first three rounds of LAAs are available on the Improvement and Development Agency for local government's website at:
	http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1174198

Property Development: Floods

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of dwellings under the Government's plans for  (a) growth areas and  (b) designated new development sites will be located within an area of (i) medium and (ii) significant flood risk.

Caroline Flint: Government do not set the local spatial location of housing development. This is set by local authorities through their local development frameworks as part of regional and local planning processes. It is for local authorities to determine issues in relation to development in areas of flood risk, advised by the Environment Agency. PPS25, planning policy for development and flood risk, provides a strong and strategic framework for planning authorities to avoid and manage flood risk to new development.
	In addition, for growth areas, growth points and eco-towns my Department works closely with the Environment Agency to minimise the risk of large scale development occurring in areas of significant flood risk.

Property: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many domestic or composite properties in England have an entry on the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model database; and how many have one or more photographs recorded on the digital photography application.

John Healey: The number of domestic, including composite, properties in England with a live council tax band entry in the Valuation Office Agency's central database was 22,539,701 as at 8 June 2008. Of these, 803,167 had one or more digital photographs associated with them. The Agency's central database stores the data that feeds into its automated valuation modelling.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeship  (a) starts and  (b) completions there were in (i) each region and (ii) each county in the most recent year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Information about the number of apprenticeships starts and completions for England in 2006/07 is given in tables placed in the House Library.
	A comprehensive breakdown by English county is not readily available. The second table is a breakdown by local authority some of which are counties.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what IT contracts his Departments and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

David Lammy: DIUS is a new Department which leases its IT equipment and obtains IT services through a contract with Fujitsu Services.
	We investigated the feasibility of providing details of the IT contracts that DIUS' agencies have entered into but concluded that to answer would be a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

David Lammy: In my Department for vacancies that are filled through inward secondments we adhere to the Government guidelines on fair and open competition and ensure that opportunities and the selection process do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age and sexual orientation.
	Occasionally the Department makes contact or is approached by key delivery partners in the suggestion of identifying staff who can enter DIUS on secondment for a temporary period to assist with a specific specialist piece of work. This is only in cases where we are not able to secure the services and skills of employees within the Department. In these cases specific identified staff are appointed. In all cases appointments are temporary and these do not become permanent civil servants.

Essex University: INTO

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether he has had discussions with the University of Essex on proposals by that University to enter into a public-private partnership with the private education company INTO; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We welcome the principle of partnerships between higher education institutions and both public and private sector education providers which can lead the innovative delivery of high quality services. However, we would not expect to discuss individual projects with institutions and we have had no discussions with Essex or any other university in relation to private education companies.

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information, communication and dissemination work in the UK the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training is undertaking in 2008-09.

Bill Rammell: In 2008/09 the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) will disseminate news, analyses and reports on vocational training in Europe, principally for senior-policy makers and VET experts in the UK, through direct contact, networks, websites, publications and seminars. In the UK, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) helps disseminate Cedefop's work through a dedicated website.
	Cedefop's websites have around 15,000 UK visitors each month. Study visits are coordinated by Cedefop to exchange ideas and best practice. In 2008, 246 UK experts will participate and 23 visits will be held in the UK.

Graduates

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of working age people had a degree or equivalent qualification in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The number of women aged 19-59 and men aged 19-64 in England who hold at least a level 4 qualification increased by nearly 1.9 million between quarter 4, 1997 and quarter 4, 2007. The proportion increased by 8.6 percentage points from 22.3 per cent. to 30.9 per cent.
	The supply of graduates has been rising steadily and we know employer demand for graduates remains high. Most large employers (81 per cent.LSC survey on recruitment and training among large employers, 2008) see a level 4 qualification or above as a good indicator for skills. We want to ensure that graduates have both the specialist and broader skills which employers value and that their employment rates remain high.
	Through Higher Education at Work - High Skills: High Value we are consulting on our high level skills strategy and will consider carefully the responses to help us take forward our plans to improve graduate employability and to raise the skills and capability of those already in work.
	DIUS uses the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor, the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey (ALALFS) to provide estimates about numbers and proportions of the population with a degree or equivalent qualification for English local authorities. These local estimates are available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STA/t000747/index.shtml
	Series are available via this link back to 2001/02 for both the working age population (i.e. women aged 16-59 and men aged 16-64 (16-59/64)) and the 19-59/64 population which is now the focus for DIUS reporting. Data for earlier years for the 16-59/64 population is also published by the Office for National Statistics via the NOMIS website at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	However, it should be noted that all these local estimates are currently undergoing revision following the reweighting of all underlying datasets to reflect more up-to-date population estimates from ONS. The DIUS series will be revised in August. The updating of the NOMIS series will be completed in the coming months.

Languages: Adult Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on extending foreign language capability as part of lifelong learning courses.

Bill Rammell: The Government recognise the importance of modern foreign language skills to employers to improve their competitiveness in the global economy. The approach taken by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in the light of the decline in adult participation rates in these subjects recognises the key role providers have in reversing this trend by stimulating demand and revitalising the curriculum to equip more adults and young people with modern language skills. To this end each local area is expected to have a core adult learning offer that reflects and responds to the spectrum of individual adult and employer needs.
	In addition, the LSC also funds a range of learning opportunities for individual adults within its safeguarded budget for personal and community development (lifelong) learning. Courses to develop foreign language capability are also funded through this budget.
	We will continue to give priority to provision for groups of individuals both in the workplace and in the community who are in greatest need of learning.
	As part of the national teaching and learning change programme the Quality Improvement Agency on behalf of the Department has developed a suite of foreign language teaching resources which support teachers, tutors, trainers and managers to raise standards of practice and deliver learner success across the foreign language FE curriculum.
	On the 16 June 2008 the latest in the suite of foreign language teaching materials, produced for the QIA by Cliffhanger Studios, won a Royal Television Society Award for Innovation in Education beating of tough competition from the BBC.

Students: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students received monies from Learning Skills Council funding in North Yorkshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Details of student numbers receiving funding from the Learning and Skills Council at the level requested is not collected by my Department. This is an operational matter for the LSC as they determine these matters after discussions with local providers, partners and other organisations that are necessary to support the delivery of the Council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Lady with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Vocational Training: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adults post-16 were in skills training in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (b) Leeds West constituency supported by Government schemes or allowances in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The following table shows the total number of LSC-funded learners (split by age) resident in  (a) Leeds metropolitan district and  (b) Leeds West constituency from by academic year from 2002-03 to 2006-07. Data for other years are not available.
	
		
			   Aged 16-18  Aged 19+  Total 
			   Leeds metropolitan district  Leeds West constituency  Leeds metropolitan district  Leeds West constituency  Leeds metropolitan district  Leeds West constituency 
			 2002-03 18,110 1,970 48,600 5,870 66,760 7,850 
			 2003-04 18,670 1,980 51,770 6,580 70,460 8,550 
			 2004-05 19,150 2,070 49,900 6,350 69,070 8,420 
			 2005-06 19,660 2,000 44,200 6,360 64,060 8,390 
			 2006-07 19,960 2,100 35,720 6,210 56,090 8,340 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10; totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. The figures represent total in-learning volumes in a given year (that is to say the total number of individuals who took part in learning at some point during the academic year) and cover Further Education, Work Based Learning, School Sixth Forms (all years) and Train to Gain (from 2005-06). 3. Consistent information on learner numbers in FE is not available prior to 2002-03.  Source: Individualised Learner Record and School Census

Academies: Class Sizes

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size in each secondary academy school is.

Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Academies : classes as taught by one teacher( 1) , January 2008 
			 Classes taught by one teacher 
			  URN  Establishment name  Local authority area  Number of pupils  Number of classes  Average class size 
			 105135 St Paul's Academy Greenwich 680 28 24.3 
			 134693 Mossbourne Community Academy Hackney 773 35 22.1 
			 131062 The Petchey Academy Hackney 354 13 27.2 
			 131609 The Bridge Academy Hackney Hackney 186 8 23.3 
			 131752 Burlington Danes Academy Hammersmith and Fulham 781 38 20.6 
			 134314 St. Mary Magdalene Academy Islington 392 13 30.2 
			 134815 Lambeth Academy Lambeth 727 38 19.1 
			 135073 Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College Lewisham 1,302 65 20.0 
			 135070 Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy Lewisham 830 37 22.4 
			 135264 St. Matthew Academy Lewisham 752 34 22.1 
			 134222 City of London Academy (Southward) Southwark 946 47 20.1 
			 134225 Harris Academy at Peckham Southward 1,158 64 18.1 
			 131747 Harris Academy Bermondsey Southwark 865 37 23.4 
			 135315 Walworth Academy Southwark 925 44 21.0 
			 135375 St. Michael and All Angels C of E Academy Southwark 754 44 17.1 
			 135401 Bacon's College Southwark 1,031 56 18.4 
			 135316 Ashcroft Technology Academy Wandsworth 997 50 19.9 
			 130912 Paddington Academy Westminster 1,010 47 21.5 
			 131262 Westminster Academy Westminster 794 48 16.5 
			 135242 King Solomon Academy Westminster 34 2 17.0 
			 134798 London Academy Barnet 1,140 59 19.3 
			 133769 The Business Academy Bexley Bexley 1,496 64 23.4 
			 134226 Capital City Academy Brent 1,082 50 21.6 
			 135249 Harris Academy South Norwood Croydon 721 39 18.5 
			 135311 Harris City Academy Crystal Palace Croydon 942 44 21.4 
			 134369 West London Academy Ealing 1,250 62 20.2 
			 134311 Oasis Academy Enfield Enfield 179 7 25.6 
			 133386 Greig City Academy Haringey 828 50 16.6 
			 134797 Stockley Academy Hillingdon 795 40 19.9 
			 135004 The Harefield Academy Hillingdon 581 28 20.8 
			 131897 Harris Academy Merton Merton 660 37 17.8 
			 134003 St. Marks Church of England Academy Merton 800 38 21.1 
			 132727 Walthamstow Academy Waltham Forest 718 36 19.9 
			 134993 Sandwell Academy Sandwell 703 36 19.5 
			 135170 Shireland Collegiate Academy Sandwell 964 52 18.5 
			 135234 George Salter Collegiate Academy Sandwell 886 48 18.5 
			 129342 Grace Academy Solihull 1,015 59 17.2 
			 133697 Walsall Academy Walsall 926 46 20.1 
			 101857 The Academy of St. Francis of Assisi Liverpool 769 34 22.6 
			 131065 North Liverpool Academy Liverpool 990 65 15.2 
			 135174 Belvedere Academy Liverpool 487 32 15.2 
			 134224 Manchester Academy Manchester 831 37 22.5 
			 135296 William Hulme's Grammar School Manchester 691 39 17.7 
			 135313 St. Anne's Academy Rochdale 557 27 20.6 
			 135071 Salford City Academy Salford 594 34 17.5 
			 135262 Stockport Academy Stockport 449 23 19.5 
			 131749 The Barnsley Academy Barnsley 410 24 17.1 
			 135007 Trinity Academy Doncaster 1,107 57 19.4 
			 131895 Sheffield Park Academy Sheffield 1,055 54 19.5 
			 131896 Sheffield Springs Academy Sheffield 952 46 20.7 
			 130909 Dixons City Academy Bradford 961 53 18.1 
			 135367 Bradford Academy Bradford 875 39 22.4 
			 131898 David Young Community Academy Leeds 878 54 16.3 
			 134221 The City Academy Bristol Bristol City of 1,011 63 16.0 
			 135300 Bristol Brunei Academy Bristol City of 827 39 21.2 
			 135295 John Cabot Academy South Gloucestershire 956 55 17.4 
			 133768 Unity City Academy Middlesbrough 917 46 19.9 
			 134223 The King's Academy Middlesbrough 1,051 53 19.8 
			 130908 Macmillan Academy Middlesbrough 1,393 82 17.0 
			 135176 Oasis Academy Immingham North East Lincolnshire 678 31 21.9 
			 135209 Oasis Academy Wintringham North East Lincolnshire 650 24 27.1 
			 135294 Havelock Academy North East Lincolnshire 704 32 22.0 
			 135337 Barnfield West Academy Luton Luton 750 34 22.1 
			 135338 Barnfield South Academy Luton Luton 721 32 22.5 
			 135120 Landau Forte College Derby 993 51 19.5 
			 135314 Eastbourne Church of England Academy Darlington 561 28 20.0 
			 128364 The Samworth Enterprise Academy Leicester 500 19 26.3 
			 135364 Swindon Academy Swindon 1,118 45 24.8 
			 130247 John Madejski Academy Reading 577 31 18.6 
			 135263 Thomas Deacon Academy Peterborough 1,879 92 20.4 
			 133114 The Gateway Academy Thurrock 778 36 21.6 
			 128340 The Marlowe Academy Kent 514 33 15.6 
			 135195 Folkestone Academy Kent 950 47 20.2 
			 135290 Marsh Academy Kent 818 45 18.2 
			 135297 Leigh Technology Academy Kent 1,203 67 18.0 
			 135305 Spires Academy Kent 259 14 18.5 
			 135372 New Line Learning Academy Kent 894 44 20.3 
			 135371 Cornwallis Academy Kent 1,419 67 21.2 
			 134253 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham Nottingham 1,300 73 17.8 
			 135149 Madeley Academy Telford and Wrekin 708 32 22.1 
			 134814 Northampton Academy Northamptonshire 1,251 60 20.9 
			 135365 North Oxfordshire Academy Oxfordshire 657 33 19.9 
			   
			  All academies  68,620 3,470 19.8 
			   
			  All state funded secondary schools(2)  3,082,260 147,630 20.9 
			 (1) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the Census in January. Includes sixth form classes where applicable. (2) Includes local authority maintained secondary schools, CTCs and academies.  Note: National totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown.

Child Development Grant

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the overall cost of implementing the Child Development Grant of 200 nationwide; and when he expects the Child Development Grant to be available to all parents.

Kevin Brennan: The Child Development Grants Pilot will run in 10 local authorities and will test how financial support can be used to encourage disadvantaged families to utilise the childcare and other services offered by their local children's centres. The Child Development Grant pilot is one of a number of child poverty pilots announced at Budget 2008 as part of the wider child poverty strategy. A comprehensive evaluation will be undertaken to determine the likely impact and cost-effectiveness of all the child poverty pilots before a decision is made about whether any of the initiatives are rolled out nationally. Any decisions on future roll out of Child Development Grants and other pilots will be subject to future spending reviews.

Children in Care

Michael Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many looked-after children in each ethnic category there are in England; how many people or couples in each ethnic category in England have been assessed as suitable adoptive parents and are yet to adopt; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Information on how many people or couples in each ethnic category in England have been assessed as suitable adoptive parents and are yet to adopt, is not collected centrally.
	Information on the number of looked after children in each ethnic category in England, is shown in the following table. The information is taken from Table A1 of the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled 'Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007'. The SFR is located at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml.
	
		
			  Children looked after at 31 March by ethnic origin, 2003-07(  1, 2, 3) , England 
			Number  Percentage 
			2003( 4)  2004( 5)  2005( 5)  2006( 5)  2007( 5)  2003( 4)  2004( 5)  2005( 5)  2006( 5)  2007( 5) 
			  All children looked after at 31 March( 1, 2) 61,200 61,200 61,000 60,300 60,000 100 100 100 100 100 
			 
			  Ethnic origin   
			  White   
			  White British 47,300 46,300 45,900 45,000 44,700 77 76 75 75 74 
			  White Irish 580 520 500 440 400 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Any other White background 1,800 1,900 1,800 1,600 1,500 3 3 3 3 3 
			  Mixed   
			  White and Black Caribbean 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,900 3 3 3 3 3 
			  White and Black African 400 410 440 430 440 1 1 1 1 1 
			  White and Asian 750 720 720 750 770 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Any other mixed background 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 3 3 3 3 3 
			  Asian or Asian British   
			  Indian 300 300 280 300 290 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Pakistani 510 520 580 610 660 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Bangladeshi 200 230 270 280 280 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Any other Asian background 320 460 650 880 1,000 1 1 1 1 2 
			  Black or Black British   
			  Caribbean 1,600 1,700 1,600 1,600 1,600 3 3 3 3 3 
			  African 1,800 2,300 2,400 2,400 2,300 3 4 4 4 4 
			  Any other Black background 870 880 900 900 880 1 1 1 1 1 
			  Other ethnic groups   
			  Chinese 80 120 120 120 130 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Any other ethnic group 750 840 900 1,000 1,200 1 1 1 2 2 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (3) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (4) Figures are derived from the SSDA903 one third sample survey. (5) Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which, since 2003-04 has covered all children looked after.

Children in Care: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire were entered for  (a) no,  (b) one,  (c) two,  (d) three,  (e) four and  (f) five GCSEs in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire achieved five or more GCSEs at grade C or above in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: Data collected since 2000 and published in Outcome Indicators for Looked After Children Twelve months to 30 September, show the GCSE performance or equivalents of children who were looked after for at least 12 months. The available information for Staffordshire local authority is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  GCSE performance or equivalents of children who are looked after continuously for at least 12 months in Year 11:  12  months ending 30 September 2003 - 07Staffordshire local authority 
			Percentge( 2) 
			   Number looked after in year 11 old enough to sit GCSE or GNVQ exams( 1)  Who sat at least one GCSE or GNVQ  1 GCSE at grade A* - G or a GNVQ  5 A* - G GCSE grades (or equivalent)  5 A* - C GCSE grades (or equivalent) 
			 2003 45 100 57 41 18 
			 2004 45 48 48 41 (3) 
			 2005 45 55 55 30 (3) 
			 2006 60 49 49 36 (3) 
			 2007 45 78 78 61 17 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. (2) Expressed as a percentage of all looked after children in year 11. (3) Wherever the numerator is five or less or the denominator is 10 or less of the underlying numbers from which a percentage has been calculated, the percentage has been suppressed.  Source: OC2 Survey 
		
	
	We do not collect information about the numbers of looked after children according to how many GCSEs they were entered for. However, these data are available at a local level enabling local authorities to set targets for the attainment of looked after children at key stage four. These targets are negotiated with the National Strategies and Government Offices and form a statutory part of a local authority's local area agreement.
	At a National level the DCSF is investigating the quality of matching data on looked after children to the national pupil database (NPD), which provides a wide range of data on the educational attainment of children and young people.
	We are determined to do more and improving the education of looked after children is a top priority. It is key to improving their life chances and a successful transition to adulthood. We have set out our intentions in Care Matters: Time for Change and the implementation plan Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care published by the Government with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services.

Children's Centres: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children's centres there are in  (a) Tamworth and  (b) Staffordshire.

Beverley Hughes: There are currently four designated Sure Start Children's Centres in Tamworth offering services to approximately 4,000 children under five and their families. There are a total of 38 children's centres in Staffordshire, offering services to approximately 35,000 children.
	Local authorities are currently planning the final phase of the roll out of children's centres so that by 2010 there will be a children's centre for every community. Staffordshire has been given an indicative number of a further 15 centres required to reach all remaining under fives in the county. This figure is subject to confirmation following planning discussions between the focal authority and the Department's delivery partner, Together for Children.

Cowes High School

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to make a funding allocation through the Building Schools for the Future programme for the rebuilding of Cowes High School on the Isle of Wight; and to which organisation such an allocation will be made.

Jim Knight: A funding allocation, for the rebuilding of Cowes High School, was made to Isle of Wright council, through the Building Schools for the Future One-School Pathfinder programme, in January 2007. The full allocation is 32 million and the first payment was made through the standards fund in May 2007.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Kevin Brennan: Figures are detailed in the following tables for grades 6 and below. The figures do not reflect the senior civil service, where it is not possible to calculate an hourly rate given their contracts of employment set an expected minimum number of hours and the requirement to work additional hours for the performance of their duties.
	Temporary refers to staff employed by the department on short term contracts and therefore excludes agency workers who are not employees of the Department.
	
		
			  National 
			   
			  Grade  Permanent hourly rate  Temporary hourly rate 
			 EA AA 6.80  
			 EA AO 7.70  
			 EO 9.80 8.90 
			 Grade 6 25.40  
			 Grade 7 20.70  
			 HEO 12.20  
			 SEO 15.10  
		
	
	
		
			  London 
			   
			  Grade  Permanent hourly rate  Temporary hourly rate 
			 EA AA 8.40  
			 EA AO 9.30 8.70 
			 EO 11.30 10.50 
			 Grade 6 28.10  
			 Grade 7 23.00  
			 HEO 23.00  
			 SEO 16.70  
			 '' = No temporary staff in specialist grades therefore these are not reflected in the information provided.

Dyscalculia

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of dyscalculia on school examination results; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We have not made a specific assessment of the effects of dyscalculia on school examination results. However, we are aware that in 2005 the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency published a review of research in relation to dyscalculia, which notes that tests and definitions of dyscalculia vary.
	The Department's Statistical First Release, National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England 2006/07, was published on 27 November 2007. This indicates that whereas 68.7 per cent. of children who did not have identified special educational needs (SEN) obtained five A*-C grades at GCSE, only 23.1 per cent. of children on the school-based stages of SEN support reached that level of attainmentand only around 9.2 per cent. of those with statements. We intend to publish attainment figures by type of need as an additional table to this Statistical First Release during the week commencing 7 July 2008.
	In 2006, 22 per cent. of children at School Action Plus who have a specific learning difficulty as their primary type of need (i.e. dyscalculia, dyslexia or dyspraxia) achieved the equivalent of five A*-C grades at GCSE, as did 14 per cent. of children who had a statement for these needs. This compared to 65.9 per cent. of children who did not have identified SEN.
	In the Children's Plan, which we published in December last year, we recognised that more needs to be done to improve outcomes and provision for children with SEN. In a written statement on 6 May 2008, the Secretary of State for Children, School and Families announced that Sir Jim Rose has been asked, in the light of evidence, to make recommendations on the identification and teaching of children with dyslexia.
	In developing his recommendations, Sir Jim Rose will be considering evidence of practice in improving outcomes for children with dyslexia, including those who are experiencing difficulties associated with dyscalculia. He has agreed to prepare a report containing his recommendations early in 2009.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Fraud

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many staff defrauded the education maintenance allowance system in each year since it was launched; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the losses to his Department from fraudulent claims for education maintenance allowance system in each year since it was launched; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Responsibility for operating the Education Maintenance Allowance, and maintaining and implementing a strategy for managing the risk of fraud, transferred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 1 April 2005. The LSC have provided a response to these questions as follows:
	Since the national roll out of EMA in England in September 2004, there have been no identified cases of fraud by staff at the Assessment and Payment Body (APB), Learning Providers, or the Learning and Skills Council.
	The total losses to date arising from fraudulent claims that have been identified since national roll out amount to 58,635. This equates to less than 0.0001 per cent. of the total EMA budget since roll out.
	This answer only refers to the EMA scheme in England the EMA schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to decide on the extension of the single level tests to all schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Single level tests are one of the elements of the Making Good Progress pilot which is a two year pilot in over 450 schools running from September 2007 until July 2009.
	The Children's Plan made clear that whilst our intention is to implement single-level tests on a national basis at the earliest opportunity, any decision to do so will be subject to positive evaluation from the pilot, and to endorsement of this approach from the Regulator.
	The pilot is being independently evaluated by PricewaterhouseCoopers and a final evaluation report is due in autumn 2009.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children gained five or more GCSEs at grade C and above in the Peterborough City Council area in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 56.3 per cent. of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in the city of Peterborough achieved five or more GCSE or equivalents at grades A* - C.
	This information is taken from table 18 of the SFR: GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006/07 (Revised), published in January 2008 and is available at the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000768/index.shtml

Higher Education: Admissions

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what programmes operating in the London borough of Bexley his Department has funded to encourage university applications; and how much his Department has spent on such programmes in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to widening participation so that everyone with the potential to benefit from higher education has the opportunity to do so.
	The Aimhigher programme, funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Health, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), brings together universities, colleges and schools in partnership to raise the attainment levels of young people and their aspirations towards higher education. It supports activities such as visits to university, summer schools and mentoring schemes. In the 2007-08 academic year, Aspire, the Aimhigher partnership for London South East (which includes Bexley) is receiving 2.554 million. It is not possible to identify the amount spent specifically in Bexley.
	In addition, universities have their own outreach programmes, some of which operate locally, whilst others extend across the country. Universities charging higher level fees have agreements with the Office for Fair Access concerning the additional support they will offer young people from poorer families, together with additional outreach.

National College for School Leadership

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which hon. Members have been invited to visit the National College for School Leadership since its inception.

Jim Knight: During the early set-up years of the National College for School Leadership, between 2002 and 2005, a public relations campaign was undertaken, under the leadership of its first chief executive, to raise its profile. Invitations to visit the college were sent to the following hon. Members:
	Ian Cawsey
	Tim Collins
	Vernon Coaker
	Valerie Davey
	David Drew
	Damian Green
	Mark Hoban
	Geoffrey Robinson
	Barry Sheerman
	Phil Willis
	Tim Yeo
	Since 2006, Graham Allen, the hon. Member for Nottingham North, in whose constituency the college is located, and Barry Sheerman have been invited to visit. Since the college's inception, invitations have also been extended to hon. Members in ministerial posts in the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its predecessors.

Pupils: Hearing Impaired

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues on assessing the ability of deaf children in examination in subjects where a listening component is generally required; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not issue guidance on detailed issues relating to examinations: it is for the qualifications regulators and the awarding bodies to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made, in the light of their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act. The Joint Council for Qualifications prepares issues advice on access arrangements on behalf of awarding bodies.
	The Government have made clear that the content and curriculum of qualifications should offer all candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding and display their strengths. When other reasonable adjustments have been considered but cannot be made we would therefore expect that the practice of exemptions from parts of an assessment, and the resulting enhancements of grades will continue.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Information Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many press officers the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority employed in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Office of the Qualifications and Examination Regulator; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Since 2003, QCA has employed the following number of press officers in each year:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 5 
			 2006 4 
			 2007 4 
			 2008 3 
			  Note: No figures are available prior to 2003. 
		
	
	In addition, in 2008 the Office of the Qualifications and Examination Regulator employs two press officers.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) staff who will  (a) take voluntary redundancy and  (b) move to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator when the PCA is disbanded;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount of compensation being paid to Qualifications and Curriculum Authority staff who are  (a) taking voluntary redundancy and  (b) moving to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government plan to legislate in the 2008-09 session to establish the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual), which will be based in Coventry. Ofqual will have about 125 staff, many of whom will transfer from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The QCA will not be disbanded but will evolve into a Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency, which will also be based in Coventry.
	As a result of the relocation, rather than the creation of Ofqual, QCA currently expect about 300 QCA and Ofqual staff to take voluntary redundancy. Staff will confirm their preferences for relocation, redeployment or redundancy in the autumn.
	QCA estimates that 15.5 million will be paid to QCA staff who take voluntary redundancy as a result of its relocation to Coventry. No compensation will be paid to QCA staff who transfer to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator.

Schools: Asbestos

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of schools have had asbestos in their buildings in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent steps his Department has taken to remove asbestos from schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The majority of the many domestic and non domestic buildings in England are likely to contain asbestos. In this schools are no different. Our best estimate is that some asbestos containing materials can be found in around 70 per cent. of school buildings.
	Health and Safety Executive guidance is clear that if asbestos is unlikely to be disturbed or damaged it is usually safer to leave it in place and manage it. Routine condition surveys are rigorous enough to identify damaged material that could contain asbestos, and this would then trigger further action such as intrusive surveys and the repair or removal of any asbestos containing materials.
	Detailed information about the incidence of asbestos in schools is not collected centrally. Local authorities are responsible for school buildings under their management. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 place a duty on those with legal responsibilities for maintenance of buildings to manage the risk from asbestos. This includes assessing whether there is asbestos in buildings and, depending on its condition, removing it or managing it.
	The HSE provides advice and guidance on the management of asbestos in schools.

Schools: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the total financial allocation per pupil was in each  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school in Hemsworth constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Hemsworth constituency is not available as it forms part of the Wakefield local authority. The revenue funding allocated by Wakefield local authority to each maintained primary and secondary school is included in the following table:
	
		
			  Total budget share plus grants( ,)  per pupil allocated to local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in the Wakefield local authority from 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			Total budget share plus grants per pupil allocated to local authority maintained primary and secondary schools () 
			  School name  DCSF establishment number  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Primary school   
			 Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School 3023 3,180 3,300 3,570 3,830 3,740 
			 Ackworth Mill Dam Junior and Infant School 2201 3,050 3,300 3,410 3,650 3,870 
			 All Saints Featherstone CofE (VA) Junior Infant and Nursery School 3316 2,610 2,870 3,080 3,350 3,380 
			 Ash Grove Junior and Infant School 2190 2,510 2,820 3,140 3,380 3,640 
			 Badsworth Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School 3022 2,770 2,920 3,150 3,380 3,500 
			 Bell Lane Primary (J and I) School 2202 2,440 2,650 2,800 3,000 3,200 
			 Crofton Infant School 2040 3,000 3,210 3,430 3,740 3,760 
			 Crofton Junior School 2039 2,420 2,700 2,910 3,110 3,280 
			 Featherstone Girnhill Infant School 2088 3,600 3,970 4,230 4,660 4,830 
			 Featherstone North Featherstone Junior and Infant School 2150 2,520 2,760 3,000 3,200 3,380 
			 Featherstone Purston Infant School 2133 2,720 3,030 3,370 3,650 3,860 
			 Featherstone Purston St. Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School 3018 2,310 2,670 3,000 3,300 3,450 
			 Featherstone Streethouse Junior Infant Nursery and Resources for Pupils with Physical Difficulties 2128 3,360 3,880 4,210 4,630 4,840 
			 Fitzwilliam Primary School 2197 2,850 3,250 3,470 3,690 3,860 
			 Havercroft Junior Infant and Nursery School 2194 2,660 3,070 3,350 3,730 3,850 
			 Hemsworth Grove Lea Primary School 2199 2,520 2,870 3,060 3,200 3,300 
			 Hemsworth St. Helens Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School 3340 2,700 3,200 3,510 3,890 3,990 
			 Hemsworth West End Primary School 2200 2,640 2,940 3,310 3,700 3,810 
			 Infant School Moorthorpe Primary (J and I) School 2192 2,720 3,050 3,250 3,710 3,780 
			 Kinsley Primary (J and I) School 2198 2,830 3,280 3,540 3,840 4,150 
			 Northfield Primary School: with Autism Resource 2189 2,760 3,060 3,300 3,600 3,700 
			 Ryhill Junior, Infant and Nursery School 2195 2,890 3,200 3,480 3,770 3,920 
			 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 3329 3,080 3,510 3,880 4,270 4,290 
			 Sandal Endowed Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior School 3339 2,360 2,640 2,950 3,240 3,380 
			 Shay Lane Primary (J and I) School 2203 2,760 3,040 3,130 3,330 3,560 
			 South Elmsall Carlton Junior and Infant School 2191 2,520 2,780 3,110 3,390 3,650 
			 South Hiendley Junior Infant and Early Years School 2196 2,780 3,150 3,290 3,600 3,800 
			 South Kirkby Burntwood Junior and Infant School 2188 3,830 4,320 4,580 4,810 5,070 
			 South Kirkby Common Road Infant and Nursery School 2186 3,260 3,450 3,730 3,930 3,990 
			 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Moorthorpe 3335 2,730 3,020 3,190 3,370 3,500 
			 Standbridge Primary School 2157 3,280 3,760 3,850 4,180 4,510 
			 Stockingate Mill Junior School 2187 2,700 3,010 3,240 3,610 3,780 
			 Upton Primary School 2193 2,360 2,600 . 2,830 3,050 3,220 
			 Wakefield Castle Grove Infant School 2164 2,730 3,030 3,160 3,460 3,580 
			 Wakefield Hendal Primary School 2162 2,830 3,090 3,340 3,550 3,580 
			 Walton Grove Infant School 2132 3,130 3,360 3,610   
			 Walton Junior School 2083 2,480 2,690 2,980   
			 Walton Primary School 33423,110 3,250 
			
			  Secondary school   
			 Crofton High SchoolSpecialists in Maths and Computing 4029 2,900 3,170 3,650 3,920 4,330 
			 Featherstone Technology College 4042 3,220 3,480 4,130 4,780 5,180 
			 Hemsworth Arts and Community College 4016 3,070 3,310 4,110 4,200 4,640 
			 Kettlethorpe High School, A Specialist Maths and Computing College 4006 2,890 3,120 3,610 3,890 4,270 
			 Minsthorpe Community College, A Specialist Science College 4030 3,060 3,270 3,800 4,000 4,530 
			 St. Thomas a Becket Catholic College Specialist status in Humanities 4800 2,970 3,220 3,670 3,840 4,210 
			 St. Wilfrid's Catholic High School and Sixth Form College 4604 3,050 3,320 3,820 3,980 4,530

Science: Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many mainstream maintained secondary schools entered one or more pupils for a GCSE in  (a) biology,  (b) chemistry and  (c) physics in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many mainstream maintained secondary schools offer three separate sciences at GCSE level.

Jim Knight: In 2007, there were 1,177 out of the 3,200 maintained mainstream schools that entered a pupil for GCSE Biology, 1,101 that entered one for Chemistry and 1,092 that entered one for Physics.
	The Department does not hold information on schools that offer particular subjects at CSEonly on those that enter pupils. In 2007, 1,057 maintained mainstream schools entered at least one pupil for each of the three separate sciences at GCSE.

Specialised Diplomas: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessor has spent on developing the online assessment system required for the new diplomas in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There is no online assessment system for diplomas, but the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has been developing an IT-based Diploma Aggregation Service, to aggregate component results and enable the awarding of the qualifications.
	QCA has spent the following amounts in each year since 2005 on developing the Diploma Aggregation Service:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 4.1 
			 2007-08 10.2

Specialist Schools

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many high performing specialist schools he estimates will lose that status as a result of the changes made to the designation criteria for such schools in March 2008;
	(2)  what the reasons were for the changes to the criteria used to award High Performing Specialist School status announced in March 2008.

Jim Knight: We estimate that as at the end of April 2008, the changes to the criteria for High Performing Specialist Schools (HPSS) introduced this year impact on six existing HPSS. These schools still have the opportunity to maintain the status if their 2008 results are above the necessary threshold.
	We maintained the fundamental aspects of the 2007 criteria but raised minimum requirements for GCSE 5+ A* - C including English and mathematics. The reasons for these changes were: to reflect the introduction of the National Challenge; ensure that the top third of re-designated schools qualify for the HPSS programme and make the best use of available resources.

Teachers: Males

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of  (a) primary school and  (b) secondary school teachers were male in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information on the proportion of teachers by gender is available from the Database of Teacher Records which is collected primarily for pensions administration purposes. Figures from this source are not considered sufficiently reliable to publish at the local authority level.
	The information requested is available for England and this has been published in table D2 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2007 (Revised) at the following web link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000743/index.shtml
	'The School Workforce Census planned for 2010 will provide more detailed information on the School Workforce at local authority level.

Teachers: Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much sick pay was paid to teachers in each of the last five years; what proportion of staffing expenditure on teachers this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many teachers have received sick pay for sick leave due to  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what the average length of time sick pay was paid to a teacher in these circumstances in each year; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many teachers have taken sick leave due to  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of serving teachers this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many days of sick leave were taken by teachers due to  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last five years; what proportion of sick days taken by teachers this figure represented in each such year; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by teachers was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what the average duration was of single periods of sick leave taken by teachers who gave  (a) stress and  (b) mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Information for the number of full-time and part-time teachers taking sickness absence, and the total number of days taken by length of absence is collected by the Department. The information available has been published in table 14 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2007 (Revised) at the following web link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000743/index.shtml
	A provisional summary for calendar year 2007 has been published in table 13 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2008 (Provisional) at the following web link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000787/index.shtml

Teaching Methods

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to implement one-to-one tuition as provided under the Making Good Progress pilots in areas with high levels of educational under-achievement.

Jim Knight: The Government have already committed to the delivery of national one to one tuition for 300,000 pupils in English and 300,000 pupils to pupils in mathematics by 2010-11. National implementation of one-to-one tuition across the country, including in areas with high levels of educational under-achievement will begin in 2009-10.
	We are also developing plans to provide additional support and flexibility for one-to-one tuition in National Challenge schools: schools where less than 30 per cent. of pupils get five or more A*-C GCSEs, including English and mathematics. This will enable those schools to extend the tuition being trialled in the Making Good Progress pilot to pupils in key stage 4.
	Tuition in the Making Good Progress pilot is offered to pupils according to educational need and targeted at a pupil's specific learning gaps as identified by their class teacher. Lessons learned from the Making Good Progress pilot will inform the design of the national tuition programme.

Teaching Methods: Voluntary Organisations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what role his Department sees for the third sector in meeting on the target of one-to-one tuition for 300,000 pupils in English by 2010-11.

Jim Knight: Currently there are no formal plans for the third sector to deliver one-to-one tuition for 300,000 pupils in English by 2010-11.
	Within the Making Good Progress pilot, volunteers provide additional tuition to those pupils who have already received ten hours of one-to-one tuition in English and/or mathematics.
	Volunteers are recruited through CSV's retired and senior volunteers programme (RSVP), and come from a range of backgrounds including ex-teachers and head teachers. However, the model of one-to-one tuition within the Making Good Progress pilot currently uses qualified teachers only.
	Lessons learned from the Making Good Progress pilot will inform the design of the national tuition programme, including the use of the third sector.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families who is conducting the review of the UK's reservation against Article 37(c) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and when the review will be published.

Beverley Hughes: The review has been conducted by officials from the Joint Youth Justice Unit and the Ministry of Justice, to enable Ministers with responsibility for youth justice in England and Wales to decide whether or not the reservation remains relevant to the secure estate for children and young people in England and Wales. The officials' advice includes legal advice: in accordance with normal practice, we are not planning to publish it. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Justice (Mr. Hanson) and I will announce our conclusion in due course.
	The reservation against Article 37(c) applies to the United Kingdom as a whole. Any decision to withdraw it would also require agreement from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what reservations the UK has entered to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols; and which of those reservations are under review by the Government.

Beverley Hughes: The Government currently holds two reservations to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The reservations are against article 22 and against article 37(C). The Government are currently reviewing both of these reservations. The Government have no reservations against the Convention's optional protocols.

Westminster City Council

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what grants were made to Westminster City Council by his Department in each year since 2000-01.

Jim Knight: Revenue grant figures for Westminster local authority for years 2000-01 to 2005-06 are provided in the following table. Figures are in real terms. The main source of revenue funding for years 2000-01 to 2002-03 was made up of the Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) and for years 2003-04 to 2005-06 the Education Formula Share (EFS). Other revenue grants provided in years 2000-01 to 2005-06 include the following; Nursery Education Grant (NEG), Class Sized Grant, Large Education Action Zones Grant (EAZ), Standards Fund (SF), Budget Support Grants (BSG), Teachers Pay Reform Grants (TGP), School Standards Grant (SSG) and funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). These grants were not available in all years; the notes provided with the table outline specifically which of these other grants were provided in each individual year.
	
		
			  Westminster  local authority 
			   million 
			   SSA/EFS  Other Grants  Total 
			 2000-01 83.0 10.0 92.9 
			 2001-02 84.8 12.6 97.3 
			 2002-03 81.8 21.5 103.2 
			 2003-04 88.1 22.9 110.9 
			 2004-05 93.0 23.4 116.4 
			 2005-06 98.2 23.1 121.3 
			  Notes: 1. Grant Coverage: SSA2000-01 to 2002-03 EFS2003-04 to 2005-06 NEG2000-01 to 2002-03 Class Size2000-01 to 2002-03 TGP2000-01 to 2005-06 BSG2000-01 to 2005-06 SSG2000-01 to 2005-06 EA22000-01 to 2004-05 SF2001-02 to 2005-06 LSC2002-03 to 2005-06 2. Price Base: Real terms as at 2006-07, based on GDP deflators as at 26.09.07 3. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Education Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council. 4. The 'Other Grants' figure includes all revenue grants in DFES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-19. 5. These exclude Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 6. Rounding: The EFS, Other Grants and Total figures are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million 
		
	
	The figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with the 2000-01 to 2005-06 figures quoted because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. This change does not affect the comparability of the other non-DSG grants identified above, although there are some year-on-year changes in terms of what grants were provided.
	The 2000-01 to 2005-06 figures quoted above are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department has isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06this is the basis for the 2005-06 baseline figure quoted; as described this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. The grants associated with the 2005-06 DSG baseline are the same as those given with the EFS figure above: Standards Fund, Budget Support Grant, Transitional Support Grant, School Standards Grant and LSC funding.
	Revenue funding from the DSG, Standards Fund, School Standards Grant, Schools Standards Grant (Personalisation) and the Learning and Skills Council for years 2006-07 to 2007-08 for Westminster local authority are provided in the following table along with the comparable figures based on the 2005-06 DSG baseline. The figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19 and are in real terms.
	
		
			  Westminster Local Authority 
			   million 
			   DSG  Other Grants  Total 
			 2005-06 82.4 23.3 105.7 
			 2006-07 86.0 23.6 109.6 
			 2007-08 86.8 23.7 110.5 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: Real terms as at 2006-07, based on GDP deflators as at 26.09.07  3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19 4. DSG, Other Grants and Total figures have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 million. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

Work Experience

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 419W, on work experience, how much schools have spent on education business partnership organisations in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Education Business Partnership Organisations are funded via the LSC, 25 million for 2007-08, to provide the supply of employers necessary to support work-related learning, including work experience placements. The figures for previous years were:
	
		
			
			 2001-02 29,273,000 
			 2002-03 32,312,000 
			 2003-04 35,320,000 
			 2004-05 6,134,000 
			 2005-06 31,076,000 
			 2006-07 25,668,000 
		
	
	Schools and colleges can choose to spend elements of their own funding on the services they provide over and above that distributed by the LSC. Most schools and colleges will pay for some of the costs incurred by Education Business Partnership Organisations in delivering their services, for example, to carry out health and safety risk assessments. However, there is no centrally held data about how much this amounts to.

Youth in Action Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what EU Youth in Action programmes are in operation in England.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1911W. The EU Youth in Action Programme has five separate activities which are Youth for Europe, European Voluntary Service, Youth in the World, Youth Support Measures and European Co-operation in the Youth Field.

Youth Services: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided to each London borough to support the provision of youth services in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 1999-2000.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not set a budget for spending on youth services. Local authorities receive funding from government through the revenue support grant for youth services but it is up to them to decide how much funding should be spent based on government priorities and local needs.
	The following tables set out how much each local authority in London has budgeted for youth services in each year since 1999-2000.
	The figures for 2008-09 are still undergoing validation by the DCSF and as such remain highly provisional and subject to change
	
		
			  The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations - Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities  on youth services( 1) : 1999-2000 to 2008-09( 2, 3) , cash terms figures( 3, 4)  as reported by local authorities as at 25  J une 2008 
			   cash terms 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			  London LAs 51,317,469 57,569,841 64,770,072 65,838,535 67,393,083 
			
			 201 City of London 181,700 279,600 135,800 126,800 142,100 
			 202 Camden 2,033,000 2,208,637 2,311,433 2,364,272 2,301,702 
			 203 Greenwich 2,088,000 2,502,118 2,596,840 2,746,080 3,042,580 
			 204 Hackney 5,569,700 1,206,420 0 0 1,076,530 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 748,071 1,103,726 877,725 1,180,726 
			 206 Islington 409,430 5,983,442 5,558,808 6,211,496 3,159,950 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 3,872,000 3,926,608 3,604,598 3,782,515 3,698,300 
			 208 Lambeth 1,815,000 1,932,426 5,554,009 3,190,045 3,601,542 
			 209 Lewisham 1,472,010 2,716,231 2,919,891 2,735,412 2,969,900 
			 210 Southwark 2,551,000 2,823,000 2,893,000 3,054,009 3,341,705 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 3,550,500 4,195,200 4,386,983 4,829,739 4,814,717 
			 212 Wandsworth 0 0 2,978,270 3,160,400 3,208,580 
			 213 Westminster 1,699,000 1,728,825 1,770,400 2,001,500 1,941,900 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,125,000 966,000 898,430 911,710 1,078,240 
			 302 Barnet 2,230,000 2,261,342 1,829,061 2,302,465 1,797,612 
			 303 Bexley 1,607,000 1,576,000 1,630,000 1,898,000 1,944,000 
			 304 Brent 2,149,000 2,185,000 2,078,000 2,185,000 1,636,000 
			 305 Bromley 1,046,000 1,124,977 1,119,930 1,073,402 1,110,838 
			 306 Croydon 2,308,790 2,515,605 2,607,705 3,423,407 3,576,851 
			 307 Ealing 1,664,600 1,529,700 1,551,000 1,514,600 1,648,800 
			 308 Enfield 999,000 986,108 1,052,333 1,121,647 1,355,382 
			 309 Haringey 1,353,000 1,500,720 1,896,400 1,967,279 2,096,722 
			 310 Harrow 670,000 769,628 995,043 783,387 886,405 
			 311 Havering 1,272,000 1,329,175 1,252,847 1,332,340 1,794,770 
			 312 Hillingdon 1,418,000 1,446,973 1,473,203 1,777,011 2,132,885 
			 313 Hounslow 727,500 748,000 768,600 829,184 819,840 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 709,000 761,458 977,354 1,001,764 1,089,975 
			 315 Merton 534,160 552,277 575,729 605,730 806,830 
			 316 Newham 1,119,000 1,209,872 1,386,727 1,526,181 3,185,100 
			 317 Redbridge 1,425,000 1,620,371 1,769,916 2,020,451 2,003,813 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 701,000 751,200 646,500 693,800 698,700 
			 319 Sutton 1,391,000 1,389,457 1,534,856 1,727,348 1,295,068 
			 320 Waltham Forest 1,627,079 2,095,400 2,912,680 2,063,836 1,955,020 
		
	
	
		
			   cash terms 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  London LAs 65,839,152 69,415,404 73,331,848 74,091,963 86,421,924 
			
			 201 City of London 171,600 231,700 256,700 304,900 247,700 
			 202 Camden 2,336,214 2,466,522 2,629,912 2,595,115 3,965,941 
			 203 Greenwich 3,194,050 3,397,015 3,395,190 3,179,480 4,000,039 
			 204 Hackney 1,169,314 1,502,948 2,453,680 2,802,748 2,834,026 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,214,721 1,316,821 1,363,648 1,405,502 1,447,462 
			 206 Islington 3,349,528 3,300,600 2,685,981 2,398,040 2,955,890 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 1,969,635 1,924,650 2,425,020 3,074,750 3,489,130 
			 208 Lambeth 1,899,076 1,800,865 1,898,060 2,189,531 2,655,278 
			 209 Lewisham 3,286,713 3,480,639 3,598,210 3,503,698 3,766,323 
			 210 Southwark 4,173,125 3,733,916 3,678,265 3,956,305 3,575,586 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 4,161,299 4,575,670 4,561,005 4,655,822 4,825,619 
			 212 Wandsworth 3,313,410 2,946,640 3,098,440 3,274,330 3,287,338 
			 213 Westminster 2,261,400 2,586,100 2,789,300 2,504,300 3,073,895 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,180,670 1,182,262 1,242,085 1,370,048 1,285,298 
			 302 Barnet 1,525,781 1,261,563 1,368,685 1,485,016 1,745,380 
			 303 Bexley 2,134,000 2,208,000 2,071,000 1,963,000 2,002,000 
			 304 Brent 1,965,000 2,193,000 2,499,000 2,646,000 2,689,000 
			 305 Bromley 1,152,701 1,178,995 1,395,682 1,447,101 1,610,782 
			 306 Croydon 2,634,557 2,854,359 3,919,337 3,581,122 3,827,756 
			 307 Ealing 1,645,900 1,694,000 1,657,400 1,868,267 2,034,817 
			 308 Enfield 1,440,161 1,518,136 1,648,564 2,023,600 2,356,094 
			 309 Haringey 1,959,700 2,053,807 2,191,157 1,859,839 1,936,960 
			 310 Harrow 1,165,235 1,672,821 1,692,362 1,515,032 1,567,760 
			 311 Havering 1,855,085 1,972,350 1,882,990 1,973,670 4,612,120 
			 312 Hillingdon 2,284,148 3,072,659 3,127,453 2,005,070 2,253,644 
			 313 Hounslow 871,978 1,326,274 1,316,672 1,318,405 2,107,125 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 1,223,955 1,205,955 1,254,041 1,323,694 1,434,626 
			 315 Merton 809,020 847,028 1,045,973 1,188,494 1,299,420 
			 316 Newham 3,365,787 3,312,363 3,390,586 3,465,087 5,932,663 
			 317 Redbridge 1,905,448 1,971,531 2,033,948 2,194,841 2,323,512 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 736,700 950,500 1,078,000 1,407,100 1,399,813 
			 319 Sutton 1,328,881 1,343,675 1,371,702 1,281,856 1,363,760 
			 320 Waltham Forest 2,154,360 2,332,040 2,311,800 2,330,200 2,515,168 
		
	
	
		
			  The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations - Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) : 1999-00 to 2008-09( 2, 3) , real terms figures( 3,4)  as reported by local authorities as at 25 June 2008 
			   r eal terms (2006-07 prices) 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			  London LAs 60,997,099 67,468,084 74,132,232 73,068,681 72,687,652 
			
			 201 City of London 215,973 327,673 155,429 140,725 153,264 
			 202 Camden 2,416,470 2,588,378 2,645,538 2,623,908 2,482,529 
			 203 Greenwich 2,481,844 2,932,318 2,972,199 3,047,644 3,281,613 
			 204 Hackney 6,620,271 1,413,845 0 0 1,161,105 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 876,690 1,263,264 974,114 1,273,487 
			 206 Islington 486,658 7,012,202 6,362,303 6,893,620 3,408,204 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 4,602,346 4,601,727 4,125,623 4,197,897 3,988,848 
			 208 Lambeth 2,157,350 2,264,677 6,356,811 3,540,364 3,884,488 
			 209 Lewisham 1,749,664 3,183,245 3,341,945 3,035,805 3,203,223 
			 210 Southwark 3,032,176 3,308,371 3,311,167 3,389,389 3,604,238 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 4,220,204 4,916,500 5,021,097 5,360,123 5,192,973 
			 212 Wandsworth 0 0 3,408,763 3,507,464 3,460,654 
			 213 Westminster 2,019,470 2,026,070 2,026,302 2,221,297 2,094,461 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,337,200 1,132,089 1,028,293 1,011,831 1,162,949 
			 302 Barnet 2,650,628 2,650,145 2,093,442 2,555,313 1,938,837 
			 303 Bexley 1,910,116 1,846,969 1,865,608 2,106,431 2,096,725 
			 304 Brent 2,554,350 2,560,677 2,378,364 2,424,949 1,764,528 
			 305 Bromley 1,243,299 1,318,399 1,281,810 1,191,279 1,198,108 
			 306 Croydon 2,744,280 2,948,124 2,984,634 3,799,353 3,857,857 
			 307 Ealing 1,978,581 1,792,708 1,775,189 1,680,928 1,778,334 
			 308 Enfield 1,187,434 1,155,654 1,204,442 1,244,822 1,461,864 
			 309 Haringey 1,608,206 1,758,746 2,170,514 2,183,318 2,261,446 
			 310 Harrow 796,377 901,954 1,138,871 869,416 956,043 
			 311 Havering 1,511,928 1,557,706 1,433,939 1,478,653 1,935,772 
			 312 Hillingdon 1,685,467 1,695,758 1,686,146 1,972,156 2,300,450 
			 313 Hounslow 864,723 876,607 879,697 920,242 884,249 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 842,733 892,379 1,118,625 1,111,774 1,175,606 
			 315 Merton 634,915 647,232 658,947 672,249 870,217 
			 316 Newham 1,330,069 1,417,891 1,587,171 1,693,781 3,435,329 
			 317 Redbridge 1,693,787 1,898,969 2,025,748 2,242,330 2,161,238 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 833,224 880,357 739,948 769,991 753,592 
			 319 Sutton 1,653,374 1,628,353 1,756,711 1,917,039 1,396,812 
			 320 Waltham Forest 1,933,983 2,455,672 3,333,692 2,290,479 2,108,611 
		
	
	
		
			   r eal terms (2006-07 prices) 
			Budgeted net expenditure by London local authorities on youth services( 1) 
			  LEA no.  Local authority name  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  London LAs 69,102,881 71,320,371 73,331,848 71,759,770 81,263,710 
			
			 201 City of London 180,106 238,059 256,700 295,303 232,916 
			 202 Camden 2,452,023 2,534,211 2,629,912 2,513,429 3,729,228 
			 203 Greenwich 3,352,383 3,490,239 3,395,190 3,079,400 3,761,291 
			 204 Hackney 1,227,278 1,544,193 2,453,680 2,714,526 2,664,873 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,274,936 1,352,959 1,363,648 1,361,261 1,361,068 
			 206 Islington 3,515,568 3,391,178 2,685,981 2,322,557 2,779,464 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 2,067,272 1,977,468 2,425,020 2,977,966 3,280,876 
			 208 Lambeth 1,993,216 1,850,286 1,898,060 2,120,611 2,496,794 
			 209 Lewisham 3,449,639 3,576,158 3,598,210 3,393,412 3,541,525 
			 210 Southwark 4,379,992 3,836,386 3,678,265 3,831,772 3,362,172 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 4,367,580 4,701,240 4,561,005 4,509,271 4,537,595 
			 212 Wandsworth 3,477,660 3,027,505 3,098,440 3,171,264 3,091,129 
			 213 Westminster 2,373,500 2,657,070 2,789,300 2,425,472 2,890,425 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 1,239,197 1,214,707 1,242,085 1,326,923 1,208,583 
			 302 Barnet 1,601,416 1,296,184 1,368,685 1,438,272 1,641,205 
			 303 Bexley 2,239,785 2,268,594 2,071,000 1,901,211 1,882,508 
			 304 Brent 2,062,408 2,253,183 2,499,000 2,562,712 2,528,503 
			 305 Bromley 1,209,842 1,211,350 1,395,682 1,401,551 1,514,640 
			 306 Croydon 2,765,155 2,932,691 3,919,337 3,468,399 3,599,291 
			 307 Ealing 1,727,489 1,740,488 1,657,400 1,809,460 1,913,366 
			 308 Enfield 1,511,552 1,559,798 1,648,564 1,959,903 2,215,467 
			 309 Haringey 2,056,845 2,110,170 2,191,157 1,801,297 1,821,350 
			 310 Harrow 1,222,997 1,718,728 1,692,362 1,467,343 1,474,186 
			 311 Havering 1,947,044 2,026,477 1,882,990 1,911,545 4,336,839 
			 312 Hillingdon 2,397,376 3,156,982 3,127,453 1,941,956 2,119,132 
			 313 Hounslow 915,203 1,362,671 1,316,672 1,276,906 1,981,358 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 1,284,628 1,239,050 1,254,041 1,282,028 1,348,998 
			 315 Merton 849,124 870,273 1,045,973 1,151,084 1,221,862 
			 316 Newham 3,532,633 3,403,264 3,390,586 3,356,016 5,578,564 
			 317 Redbridge 1,999,903 2,025,636 2,033,948 2,125,754 2,184,830 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 773,219 976,585 1,078,000 1,362,809 1,316,263 
			 319 Sutton 1,394,755 1,380,549 1,371,702 1,241,507 1,282,362 
			 320 Waltham Forest 2,261,154 2,396,038 2,311,800 2,256,852 2,365,047 
			 (1) Youth service includes the following items of planned expenditure on the Youth Service and youth work: Employees Staff Training Premises related expenditure Transport related expenditure Supplies and services Third-party payments Support services Youth work costs at residential and non-residential youth centres Youth work costs at activity at outdoor and urban studies centres Grant funding to the voluntary sector for youth work. (2) The 2001-02 and 2002-03 figures also include any Local Authority Youth Service provision that contributed to the delivery of the Connexions Service plus any Connexions Service specific funding. (3) 2008-09 data remains highly provisional and subject to change by the local authority. (4) Cash terms figures are converted to real terms (2006-07 prices) using the March 2008 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflators.